Riding wet

That's what she said?

Physical therapy today for the first time in a few weeks.  It was pretty brutal.  She moved me up to 5 lbs for my leg lifts and I'm still sore.  We tried to do some squat exercises where I do these side step things, but my knee didn't like it.  I thought for sure it was going to give out.  I didn't attempt it because of the pain.  Maybe next week.

Brandon and I rode motos to Julio & Rachel's place to watch Sons of Anarchy tonight.  As we walked out the door it started to sprinkle.  Brandon looked at me and asked if I wanted to ride still.  We looked at the clouds and decided, "Heck.  Why not?!"  So we rode out.  Once we got there it started raining pretty good.  We decided to leave when the show was over and the rain had subsided we headed back to the house.

I noticed B was riding a little crooked.  When I got closer to him I saw his tire spitting water straight at his face.  Homie has no front fender.  Funniest thing ever.  He also has no rear fender to speak of so as we took off our coats, his sweatshirt was soaked.  I was pretty dry.  Good thing I wore boots to ride in!!!!!  Silly Brandon.

She's automatic, so automatic

Today's physical therapy session was rough.  I got a less elastic band for some of my exercises and my leg really got a work out.  Although it burned, it was a good burn.

After PT I went to my folk's place.  Dad warmed me up some left overs and we watched some baseball.  After Jeannie Mae finished mending some pants she was working on, she made her way into the front room and coerced Dad into changing the channel.  After Jeannie Mae got bored sitting around not doing anything with her hands she got up and started de-seeding pomegranates.  Next thing I know...cup of fresh squeezed pomegranate juice in my hands.  Yay for moms & dads!!!!

At Nelly's birthday party my dad ended up with camera diarrhea and took about 93845234501 pictures of the family and everyone there.  He's got his fancy iPhone so he takes pictures everywhere he goes.  Now, my dad's a pretty stubborn ass.  He's also extremely intelligent and into technology.  Before the MMS feature came out he refused to get a generic gmail, hotmail or yahoo email address so he could send pictures to everyone.  Absolutely REFUSED.

Since MMS has come out for the iPhone I keep telling him he's got to update his phone and each time he asks me how to do it.  Every time I tell him he's got to attach his phone to the computer and open up iTunes, he asks me, "So...how do I do that?  What's the website for iTunes?"  These conversations usually end with me telling him I'll update it for him and then when I get to the house he decides it's not worth the trouble.

Tonight was no different.  I told him I wanted him to send me a few of the pictures he took from the other day.  "Oh, well...how do I do that?"

"You didn't update your phone yet?"

"No.  Should I?"

"If you want to send picture messages you should."

"What do I need picture messages for?  I've got Bejeweled.  What else do I need?!?!"

COUNTDOWN COMPLETE.  RULING IT.

Who listens to Dashboard Confessional still?

Oh...that's right.  Me.  Living 8 years ago all over again.  But it's sooooooooooo good!!!  Especially at 6am?  Maybe.

Even though I am half actively trying to get on a more "normal" schedule in the past week I've gone from waking up at 11am to waking up at 3pm.  Oops!

This week I've got PT and doctor's appointments I've got to be awake for, so maybe that will help out with my hours.  After waking up and getting ready today I took Brandon to school and after I picked him up I headed to Aunt April's for Monday night dinner.  It was good to see the family even though I didn't get a chance to mosey around and talk to everyone.

During dinner Jeannie Mae was telling me about the rest of Aunt Nelly's 83rd birthday party.  Apparently Mom told Nelly that her sister (April) said she was sorry for not making it out, but wanted to wish her a happy birthday anyway.

Aunt Nelly looked Mom in the face, hugged her and told her, "Well that's awfully sweet of her to do that.  But I don't think I'm going to remember it soon anyway!"

A little bit later Nelly tells Mom it was her 84th birthday.  A little while after that Mom hears Nelly tell someone else it was her 85th.  There she was...aging years right before our very eyes!!!  Nelly's wonderful and has an amazing spirit and sense of humor.  Especially toward her memory!

After I got home my friend Grant came over and we went to Temple and had delicious tea.  Afterwards we came back to the house and I did some crocheting before getting sucked in by the interwebz yet again.

I want to get tattooed soon.  I've got some ideas in mind.  It'll be a while before anything happens, but I'm okay with that.  Priorities.

Less than twenty hours.

Even doctors don't move

So being on crutches and actually getting out of the house for the past 2 months you get to see how friendly some people are and how much chivalry has gotten lost over time.  I LOVE automatic doors because trying to get in a regular door (while easy now) takes some getting used to.  Especially those crazy heavy doors.

At the grocery store no one seems to offer up a place in line for the girl on crutches who's foot is obviously discolored.  While crutching to and from physical therapy twice a week people don't seem to take notice of the crutches and continue their conversations without moving or stepping aside to make much needed walking space.  EVEN THE DOCTORS DON'T MOVE for me and you'd think of all people, THEY would know better.  So in the past 2 months I've gotten used to not getting the special attention one would hope for.

Earlier tonight I went to the movies and even though I know better, I had 3 glasses of water at dinner.  I try my darndest to avoid using public restrooms when I've got 2 healthy(ish) legs, let alone have to use one while I've only got the one good leg.  Going to the bathroom on crutches not only means fighting to get the door to the bathroom open, but trying to maneuver in the stall itself.  Someone had a genius idea of making the toilets in the handi stall like 2 or 3 inches taller than the regular stalls and since I'm not exactly on the tall side, I usually prefer the regular stalls (even though they lack those sweet unsanitary bars to grab hold of in case I decide to "hover").

Tonight was no exception.  I headed to an oversized "regular" stall and after putting down 2 or 3 ass-gaskets I felt safe enough to put my disease free bum down and took a much needed tinkle.  When I got into the bathroom there were 2 other women in stalls and during the time it took me to get all buttoned up after peeing only 1 woman was left.  She was in her mid-twenties wearing a white shirt, brown cardigan, skinny jeans and some brown knee high suede boots, indie-ish, but not "hip."  She lingered around and stared at herself in the mirror while I hobbled over to wash my hands.  Since I've been on crutches, I'm always slightly nervous about washing my hands while other people are around.  Because I'm on crutches I've got to dry my hands thoroughly so that way I don't slip and I always worry people thing I'm a tree hater because I use so many paper towels.

Anyway...I finish washing my hands and as I move toward the garbage can the woman in the bathroom heads toward the door and this is always where things get awkward.  Like, are they going to hold the door?  Will the let it close on me 4 feet away?  Will they sigh as they wait for me to hurry?  Will they rush out like they didn't see me?  This beautiful woman gets to the door while I'm about 10 feet away (more than enough time to go through and skee-dattle without having to see me after I get out) and she holds the door and waits for me.  At this point I realized she hung around the extra minute or two deliberately.  I pass her on my way out and say, "Thank you very much!"  She smiled at me and with an air of confidence I get a, "You. Are welcome." 

I was stoked, obviously.  She was a cool chick who was down to help and I can't wait to pay it forward.

TWO DAYS.

I wanted to throw my crutches away today.

This afghan flabbergasts me.  It's crocheted, which means that it's already harder to make a good looking picture, but the artist pulled it off, and quite well.  If I were at all artistic I would attempt something like this, but I know it wouldn't end up as nice...or looking like I would want it to...or ever be completed.  Perhaps one day.  I have ideas on how even I would be able to complete something like this, but it's a lot of work and I'm afraid to take on such a task, especially since I don't know what the outcome would be.  One of these days I'll get over worrying about it and just get it done.  One of these days is just far away, long after the smaller projects I want to attempt are completed (or I've been defeated by them).

Audrey.  Oh dear Audrey.  So elegant and stunning with such large feet.  I love her style.  Everything about it.  Completely timeless.  She dressed to her body style and never strayed far from it.  Her slim pants, collared shirts and a-line dresses.

If only.



Physical therapy today was good.  I did a lot of stretching and I can tell I'm gaining muscle.  Although it was pointed out later in the evening that my legs are obviously different sizes.  That's okay though, I'm going to be diligent about regaining my strength, muscle and mass this time around.  I don't want another surgery and stabilizing my knee through my quads is a high priority.

Not only did I eat breakfast today, but I also had dinner and dessert.  Lemon bar.  Delicious.  Good company too, but the visit was cut short and I went to pick up Brother and Amy at the airport.  Did you know they have a free "cell phone lot" at the airport now?!  Up to 3 hours free parking while you wait to get the call to go to the loading zone.  That means no more hanging out in the gas station parking lot!!  Woot woo!!!!

Where the Wild Things Are this weekend!!!  I've been ramping up all week for this movie and I'm totally excited to get to the theater to finally watch it in all it's glory.

FIVE FREAKING DAYS.

The only thing that sucks about winter

Is not being able to do this:


Winter is the only time I can really get away with wearing 4-6 layers and not get totally ridiculed.  It also means I get to wear scarves, gloves, long socks and coats.  I also don't mind the rain and can't wait to puddle jump once I get my legs back.

I woke up a little bit ago from a super sweet 5 hour nap.  It's 3 in the morning and I think I'll try to stay awake to make the end of the week a "normal" one, besides...if I'm still awake at 7 I can go get breakfast!  It's kind of silly having a 5 hour nap when I'd only been awake 8 hours.

My crochet was kept at a ridiculous minimum today.  I so badly want to have "the itch" to work on it.  I did yesterday and I think that's why I didn't want to sleep.  I was too excited to work on what I was doing.

Physical therapy in 9 hours.  SIX days.

It's a Death Cab kind of week

Earlier albums mainly.  Remembering how much I love that band.


After Alissa got done with her shift, I met her at work and we got our fitness on for almost an hour or so.  A solid 40 minutes probably.  I rode the stationary bike and did 2.2 miles and was on the bike at level 4 for 15 minutes.  I must have been putting in a lot of effort with my good leg because I felt the burn in it before I felt the burn in my left.  I tried to make sure I was applying an even amount of pressure, but it's super difficult, especially since I'm so used to babying that side.


I got my ass kicked at cards this weekend.  Gosh I hate losing, but I LOVE to win...so it keeps me playing over and over again trying to get my stats up.  I didn't make it to the pool on Friday, but have to land appointments scheduled next week that I'm incredibly excited for.  My black eye has almost completely dissolved as well.  While I no longer look as tough, I can now open my eye all the way (insert half aZn joke here).


My schedule this week looks pretty busy and includes getting my truck smogged and PICKING UP NIGEL!!!!!!!!  Unfortunately he won't be road ready when I get him, but I'm pretty hellbent on riding him before the winter sets in.  I'm sure I've got good friends who are pretty hellbent on seeing me riding Nigel before the winter sets in so I'm trying to make my dream a reality.  I absolutely love that bike.  He IS my pride and joy.  He IS my dream.  He IS a dream come true.  He IS going to be in my life forever.  He WILL be ridden.

Thizz face?  G face?  O face.

75 percent. Win.

When I wake up I will be at 75%.  That means in 14 days I will be (hopefully) walking and ruling the streets on two wheeled dream machines.  I need to start seriously rehabbing my knee and getting it prepped for my first steps.  I need to stop being so dang lazy.


I keep having the feelings of being able to walk already.  Sometimes as I sit straight up or go to re-position myself I get day dream glimpses of myself standing up and walking over to grab something or using my left leg to lean on.  Then reality hits and I realize these are fantasies.  At least these dreams will be coming true shortly.


Today I ate some delicious pizza and key lime pie all during a Bones marathon.  I think I watched about 14 episodes today.  It was AMAZING.  A nice day to sit around without much to do.  I hope I wake up early enough tomorrow to accomplish a semi-long task list that seems to keep growing.

Ruler.

Although I wasn't incredibly busy yesterday, I was very tired today.  Maybe it was from when I went to the DMV and got my perma-handi pass finally.  I'm not sure why, but I was tired looooooong before I went to PT today even.  Kip and Melissa's kids must've worn me out.  Even though it was Brandon who was doing all the baby tossing activities.

Physical therapy in the water today.  The knee hasn't caught once today (so far) AND I got to do squats in the pool!!!!!!  They didn't hurt, but I could definitely feel the burn in my quads and it felt FANTASTIC!!  I crutched to and from PT and it was quite a work out.

I had a dinner date tonight and had amazing convo's with some peeps I hadn't seen in a while and miss hanging out with.  Once I got home Brandon and I headed over to Golden Bear.  Brandon got in and I handed the door guy my ID.  He said I couldn't go in.  What. The. Heck.  I was JUST at the DMV...why didn't they tell me my ish was expired?!?!?!  Oops!!!  Looks like I gotta go back again.  Luckily I've got crutches that make my DMV visits extremely speedy.  Oh yeah...and up front parking.  Life rulezzzz.

Naked old ladies.

Right when I got to physical therapy I headed towards the pool.  Erica, my PT lady told me to be cautious because there might be some of the older women still changing in the locker area.  It's not like I've never seen a naked woman before, so I said "alright" and crutched over to the closed curtain.  I wanted to make sure they knew I was coming in so I kind of holler, "Knock.  Knock." and walk in.

Now...as I get in there, I've got on slip on Keds, my jorts (jeans cut off into knee length shorts), a tank top, a v-neck short sleeve shirt and my swim suit on underneath.  As I walk in you can definitely see my arm all colored and the flowers on my chest.  I get a couple strange looks from the women which is odd because they're both in their late 60s to mid 70s and sitting in there stark naked having a conversation I apparently interrupted.  They were pretty nice and asked if I was going to put on my suit.  Since I came prepared I let them know I only needed to store my things.  As I take off my shoes the woman sitting across from me looks closely at the tattoo on my foot.

"Drag...?" she asks.

"Drug free."

"Oh..."

As I take off my shirt and tank top she sees my entire arm (although not much is left to the imagination since the sleeves are already so short).

"Oh, it's the whole thing?" she asks.

"Yeah, all the way up!" which I said pretty happily so as not to sound offended if her question was an innocent one.

"That's going to be a lot harder to get off then, won't it?" she asks with actual concern and without disdain.

"Yeah, but I don't plan on taking them off.  I think I'm going to keep 'em for a while."

"Ohhh...I guess you used to really believe that one, huh?" as she looks at my drug free tattoo.

"I still do."

She looks at me incredibly baffled and I get up and crutch to the pool.  She was genuinely concerned for my ability to remove my tattoos.  I'm not sure she knew exactly what they were or how they got there.  It was incredibly adorable.

Autumn is settling in quite nice

The weather today was beautiful.  I woke up early (for me anyway) for the second day in a row and went to breakfast at Vintage Cafe with Jack & Jill.  I got a delicious breakfast quesarrito (yeah...not quite a quesadilla and not quite a burrito) and tea for under $4!!!  The 3 of us got to sit outside and people watch and while Jack barked at other dogs, Jill and I conversed with ourselves.

After I made it back home, Jack (from Florida...not Jill's dog) came over to visit with Alissa and I before he heads home to the east coast tomorrow.  It was nice visiting with him while he was here!!!  I was able to talk Brandon into making elk chili for dinner and invited Jody and Amanda over to taste the scrumptiousness that B makes.  I also had some crane melon delivered which is almost gone already.

After reading The (not so) Little Things about banned books (including The Giver, which is still top 7...but probably only because I hardly read any more) I went and ordered up a couple books.  I'm actually pretty excited about them getting here.  I've actually wanted to read the past couple weeks and that isn't a feeling I've had in YEARS.  I ended up getting the 2 books by Lois Lowry that followed The Giver and I also got Scepticism, Inc.  Although I have absolutely no doubt that I will start all of these books (at separate times, of course), only time will tell if I actually finish them.

Tomorrow is physical therapy, pool time.  I'm hopeful that my knee won't lock while I'm in the water.  I AM looking forward to "walking."  I can imagine it will be the reason I will be excited to wake up in the morning.  

I think a miracle happened today.  A ton of things totally fell into place.  I got 5 robots from AdamD (check it and reserve yours: 100 Robots).  I communicated with ALL but 2 of my closest friends and BOTH brothers today.  I ate grapes instead of ice cream, cookies, brownies, yogurt or candy.  I had tea instead of coffee or a mocha.  I'm gonna keep that PMA and say tomorrow will have such treasures. 

Frozen yogurt

For me, today was overall a pretty good day.  For Brandon...not so good.  He was a not-so-hot mess today with problems all over the place.  I actually felt bad for the guy and treated him to some delicious yogurt-a-go-go.  I think he was happy about it even though this picture looks like he's holding in a fart.


Since I've started physical therapy I've noticed a pretty distinct "catch" in my knee during my daily exercises.  This morning it was most noticeable when I was laying in bed.  I was lying on my side in a fetal type position and I rolled over onto my back.  As I rolled over, I streeeeeeeeeeetched my leg out and about 2/3's of the way through it my knee locked up.  Once the pain hit I remembered familiar feeling and I knew exactly how to fix it.  I re-bent my knee back up and then slowly straightened it again.  This time it didn't catch and even though it has caught a couple more times today not once has it been as painful as this morning.


I called the doctor to see if I needed to get in and be seen sooner rather than later.  Once I talked to him, he basically said there is no way to tell exactly what is going on inside my knee unless they go back in arthoscopically, which obviously isn't an option at this stage of my recovery.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I won't need another one ever, but only time can tell with that.  The doc said an x-ray is useless since it's a cartilage repair and the parts that we need to look at are invisible to an x-ray.  When I asked about an MRI he said the scar tissue and meniscus in my knee is so convoluted that it too is virtually useless.  


The doc said for now, I can start on my 50% weight bearing activities, as long as the exercises don't involve bending of the knee and weight bearing at the same time.  Apparently that is something I will need to work up to after the first week or so, depending on how comfortable I feel and if I think my knee can handle it.  I'll be in the pool tomorrow for physical therapy and I think Alissa is going to show me how to get into the gym at one of our stations so I can use the stationary bike there on the days I'm not at physical therapy.


I keep worrying I will need another surgery.  I keep having dreams about the same thing.  I'm crossing my fingers and trying to keep that PMA, but it's not easy when you've got all the time in the world to sit around and think.

Making mountains out of mole hills...

Due to a major lack of drama in my life, I've taken up a small hobby of creating tiny issues that otherwise don't matter.  I have also decided to go off on tangents over the smallest remarks.  Ahhh...the life of a bored handicap.  It sucks, but at least I realize I'm doing it and a) try to remedy the situation before I start one or b) apologize immediately after I create.  Create what?  Silly problems that aren't of any REAL consequence.  Yeah...it's not nice of me at all and I need to stop, but at least I'm trying, right?  Right?  If not...feel free to call me a c-face and tell me to knock it off.


Today I went to my second session of physical therapy and I'm completely wiped out.  I crutched to my appointment which is about 2 1/2 blocks to the hospital, but probably another block to the office itself.  I was worn out by the time I made it home. Worn out and sweaty.  Worn out, sweaty and smelling funky.  Next Wednesday I'll be at 50% weight bearing and in the pool. I'm excited to do some big boy exercises.  Even though my leg aches and hurts like the dickens right now, I know it's good for me and the healing process.


I got shanghai'd by Brandon to watch the UFC fights earlier.  After the fights was that silly show Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights.  It was just as terrible of a show as I expected it to be and the fight at the end was horrible.  Dude looked like he had a miscarriage from his forehead.


Tomorrow at 1:50pm my entire 2010 lifestyle gets determined.  Shift sign-ups.  Yikes.  I don't have high hopes for a good schedule, but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed just in case.  If I get lucky, my schedule will look similar to Rick Ross' calendar.

First day of therapy

Physical therapy, that is.  I crutched the 2 1/2 blocks to the hospital where the physical therapy office is.  Once I got there I decided it was a bad idea and even though it wasn't very far, I should get a ride home.  My shoulders were/are extremely sore from all the walking/crutching this past weekend and even though it's not a far walk home, it's definitely a lengthy crutch.  


My physical therapist (PT) wasn't bad.  She's a younger lady and tried really hard to make stimulating conversation.  Our communication was awkward and forced, but she tried her best.  It's difficult to entertain while getting your atrophied quadricep knead like it were a loaf of sourdough.  I got on the stationary bicycle with zero resistance for 10 minutes.  It felt good.  Very good.  It was some of the first "exercise" I've gotten in a long time.  My PT gave me 7 exercises to do, along with 2 elastic tension bands (basically wide rubber bands) to work out with at home.  I also get to start some pool exercises next week.  When she measured my flexion, I was at 128 degrees (which is 6 more than last week).


I originally asked Brandon to pick me up from the doctor's office and he said he would whenever I was ready.  Alissa messaged me while I was at the hospital still and asked if I wanted a Bliss from Temple.  Who am I to deny goodness?  I told Alissa I would LOVE to go and asked if she could pick me up instead of Brandon.  I make it to the front of the hospital and who's waiting for me?  Brandon.  On his motorcycle.  With only one seat and no crutch holder.  So what do I do?  I did what ANY girl in my position would do.  


I HOLLER!!!  I was like..."Yo baby, let me get a ride home on that thing."  Brandon and I both laughed and Alissa pulled in soon after and the three of us hit up the local delicious coffee spot, Temple II.


I made it out to my aunt & uncle's for family dinner and was given a few gifts for my birthday (since it was the first time I'd been able to see a few of my family members).  We had scrumptious Sloughhouse corn and chocolate cake.  It was a dream and thinking about it now makes my mouth water.