workworkwork

I working. A lot. I figure I've got to get in as much as I can before surgery just in case I have to take more than the 2 days off I'm planning. I still don't know for sure if it's ok that I come back to work on crutches. I should find that out in the next couple days and if it's not, then I'll be taking a good week or two off. That would not be good as I have a tendency to get stir-crazy when forced to be cooped up. Plus the not making any money part.

I'm situating my NetFlix queue so I have some good movies to look forward to next week. Anyone have any suggestions? I also started reading a pretty good book that should last me another couple weeks. I always have a stack of books yet to be read so I should be gravy even if I finish early.

This week my goals are to get my apartment cleaned up, the fridge stocked, and my bills paid so I won't have anything to worry about the week or two post-op.

I am also coming to the realization that the Twin Cities marathon may not be a realistic option for me. I need to speak with my doctor this week but I've heard others having the same surgery say they weren't allowed to run for at least 3-6 weeks post-op and even then it was slow-going. Hrmph. Reality can suck it. My brain isn't wired to set my sights low; in fact, I think it's a physical impossibility for me to under-achieve. I was dubbed KOA in my anatomy class, after all (Kristie Over-Achiever). So the marathon is a "go" until and only if reality forces me to admit otherwise.

Press on.

I'm going to Italy and Greece!

Next May I will be going on a 13 day tour of Italy and Greece as part of a study abroad opportunity at my college! It'll be a jam-packed couple of weeks but it will be my first time across the pond and what a way to make the most of it! Somehow I am going to figure out a way to get a run in while I'm there to get a good feel of the land, so to speak. Time to brush up on my Greek...anybody know Greek who can help me out?

Here is the itinerary:
Day 1 - Fly overnight to Italy

Day 2 - Rome
Arrive in Rome

Day 3 - Rome
Visit to Vatican City:
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica
Take a guided tour of Rome:
Forum Romanum
Visit the Colosseum
Take a walking tour of Rome:
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain

Day 4 - Rome
Enjoy a free day in Rome
Optional: Florence

Day 5 - Capri • Sorrento
Travel to Capri
Take a guided tour of Capri
Take an island cruise
Continue on to Sorrento

Day 6 - Pompeii • Brindisi • Night ferry
Travel to Pompeii
Take a guided tour of Pompeii
Continue on to Brindisi
Board an overnight ferry to Patras

Day 7 - Patras • Delphi
Arrive in Patras and travel to Delphi

Day 8 - Delphi • Athens
Take a guided tour of Delphi:
Temple of Apollo
Visit the Delphi Museum
Travel to Athens

Day 9 - Athens
Take a guided tour of Athens:
Olympic stadium
Omonia and Syntagma squares
Visit the Acropolis:
Parthenon
Temple of Athena Nike
Take a walking tour of Athens:
Plaka district
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Optional: Greek Evening

Days 10-13 - Greek island cruise
Cruise the Greek islands:
Mykonos
Rhodes
Patmos

Oh no, the big three oh!

Yeah, so I'm officially OLD. Good thing I have therapy on Monday so I can talk about everything I think I should have accomplished by now. Blech. I may be in some serious denial for awhile here...no, I didn't turn thirty...I just turned 29...again! Yeah, right. Is it really as bad as I think it is? Probably not but hell, I'm going to be irked about it until I can run it out tomorrow morning.

Speaking of running...

I found out I can map my running routes and find out how far they are! Sweet! Here's tomorrow's 4 mile route with a cool down included:

...
...
...

Frick, it doesn't work. Well, I'm running 4 miles at 0800 tomorrow and I'm going to be grumpy until then.

Press on.

Hydrate!

What Not to do the First Day of the Marathon Clinic:

• eat pretzels and drink Vault Zero all day in order to stay awake
• not sleep for 36 hours
• start drinking water 1/2 hour before the run while sitting in traffic
• forget to go pee before heading out
• wear a 10 year old sports bra
• go counter-clockwise around Lake Calhoun as the sun is setting

Luckily, it is rare that I'll make the same mistake twice. In the future, if anyone sees me drinking anything other than water, you have my permission to smack the back of my head and remind me about Day 1 of the Marathon Clinic.

Sheesh.

Press on.

Future Homeowner?

I am looking into buying a house and am thoroughly excited at the prospect of being a homeowner! I spoke with a lender today and he is working on getting me pre-qualified so I can begin working with a realtor. With the market being in the crapper right now I will be able to get a lot of house for not a lot of cash. I brainstormed some ideal qualities for my first house and here they are:

3 BR
2 BA
> 1500 sq ft
2-car attached garage
newer roof & windows
large deck & yard
walk-in master closet :)
wood-burning fireplace
close to work/school (within biking distance)
open floorplan
plenty of counter space and storage in kitchen
new(er) appliances

Obviously this is a dream list; did I miss anything? If I can get all that in my price range I will be one happy woman! This set-up will be perfect for the animals and I to settle in and make homey with plenty of room for visitors and a little bambino if I ever decide to adopt.

Does anyone have any tips for a first-time homebuyer? Any recommendations or warnings?

Press on.

Happy (almost) Birthday

I get nervous about posting people's real names on here since they didn't exactly volunteer to be fodder for my online tell-alls. So until you let me know otherwise, you are all reduced to the first letter of your first name...unless you are a puppy, kitty, or chinchilla. Their names are waaay to cute to hide anyway :) There will be exceptions, like in today's post where the nickname is sufficient to mask your true identity and yet provide some continuity for the reader.

Lexicon for today's post:
Little Wheel - little sister that is big
Middle Wheel - middle sister

Today I celebrated my (almost) birthday with the fam. It is always a riot when we get the gang together and somehow we all manage to revert back to 10 years old. As you can imagine, we always end up laughing. A lot. Add in a 15 month old nephew and Middle Wheel & J's new puppy Nugget, well we almost had to call shenanigans the cuteness was so unbelievable! This time around we had a new addition: Little Wheel's bf W. A bit on the quiet side but they all are at first. Just look at J, he's known our family for years and I still think he gets a little nervous around us! S is becoming much more outgoing but she has the excuse of being the mommy of the cutest (and only) baby in the house so I don't know if that counts. Babies are an unfair advantage, especially when you've got the first and only one in the family. I think meeting our family must be like traveling to another planet where you don't know the language and everyone is nuts-o...but in a good way! Yes, yes, he did just fine. Looking forward to seeing the fine young lad again sometime.

I promised Middle Wheel I would post a photo of me wearing my new t-shirt. I don't have one yet but I will shortly and believe me, the wait will be worth it! I even got matching buttons and a CD sticker. For those of you not in the know...wait for it...wait for it...

Time to enjoy my dad's old 80GB iPod he gave to me, complete with all his awesome music! I now have more Sam, Bob, Van, and Buddy than I know what to do with! Hooray! Life is so so sweet.

My goal for tomorrow is to take some of those goofy self-shots in random places with my awesome new t-shirt. Let awesomeness ensue...

Press on.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.
-Fred Rogers

I wonder if people realize their impact on others. Just a simple smile in passing, the holding of a door, or a simple "hello" can make all the difference in a person's day. It doesn't even take extra energy to do these small things and what I've found, is that by doing, you create energy for more doing. It's a perpetual cycle of positive energy wherever you go. Perhaps that energy is contagious. If only one person out of ten "catches" that energy, think of what a difference you can make! I've always believed that you can change the world one person at a time. I may not be traveling the globe in the spotlight flaunting my deeds for the next cover story but I am doing my best to make the world around me a better place.

So the next time you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, try a little experiment. Smile today at everyone you meet. Whether they be a stranger in passing, or a longtime friend, simply smile. If it suits you, as soon as they are gone you are free to frown to your heart's content! I guarantee that by mid-day you'll wonder how the wrong side of the bed turned into the right side.

Press on.

Surgery Date

Ok kids, I've finally got a date for surgery: Monday, July 7th bright and early in the AM! It'll be a same-day deal so I should be home by evening. Mom has kindly offered to "Kristie-sit" that week as I will be more or less incapacitated. Visitors will be welcome, especially if you bring egg-free cookies and episodes of Scrubs :)

I've decided to restart running and continue until surgery. Mainly because I'm going crazy without running but also because it's much easier to suck it up with a definite end in site. Only two weeks and I can finally begin putting all this business behind me.

My post-op goals:

• off all narcotics by Wednesday, July 9th
• ditch the crutches, start running, and go back to karate ASAP (I need to talk with my surgeon to set a reasonable goal-date for this)
• try not to drive my Mom (and any other Kristie-sitters) crazy!
• teach my cat how to fetch ice and Advil for me :)

Press on.

neat-o

As a personal reward for doing well in therapy this week I ordered the latest album from Mates of State "re-arrange us." For those of you who don't know, Mates of State are pretty darn neat. A bit on the quirky side with striking harmonies, damn catchy melodies, and epic endings. Listening to them makes me feel so...happy!

When I woke up this afternoon I felt like a little kid on Christmas; my Mates of State was due to arrive! I ran across the street to the office and sure enough, there it was. I double-stepped it home and tore open the package, carefully scanning each of the jewel case inserts pleasantly surprised to find the lyrics to each song printed neatly. I love lyrics and yes, I'll have the entire album memorized before the weekend hits. Popped the disc into my stereo and it was on! I can't remember the last time I had so much fun dancing around my apartment like a woman on fire.

I had some running around to do this afternoon and I had a blast singing along, windows down, basking in the afternoon sun. Sorry to anyone who drove next to me, I know my singing is wildly off-key but I don't care. I was enjoying the heck out of myself!

Thanks for the happy day Mates of State; you make me dance without reserve, sing at the top of my lungs, and goofy-grin all the day :D

Press on.

a little more inspiration

"To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
-Anita Roddick

"It's unnatural for people to run around the city streets unless they are thieves or victims. It makes people nervous to see someone running. I know that when I see someone running on my street, my instincts tell me to let the dog go after him."
-Mike Royko

Tubular.

I am met by a cool rush of recycled air as I enter the oversized sterile room. Sitting prominantly in the middle of the room is the giant tube that looks like a grey Twinkie with the middle sucked out. The tube breathes a constant noise like a blood pressure cuff inflating...

ka-weesh, ka-weesh, ka-weesh

The cold plank I am to lie on is uninviting but the warm blanket provided by the friendly tech is much appreciated. She explains the procedure and asks again if I'm claustrophobic. "Not yet!" I may change my mind but for now that's a safe answer.

The oversize headphones block out the tube's breath and the silence is welcome but short-lived.

crank, crack, whirrrrr...

"Is that it?" I think to myself, "this will be a piece of cake."

clickclickclickclickclick, clackety clack, clickclickclickclickclick...

So far so good. The music gently hums in my ears. Lite Rock. Not bad, not good. I chuckle a bit to myself as "Sister Christian" starts to play. Who writes this stuff anyway?!

ka-RACK, ka-RACK, vrooooommm, chugchugchugchugchug

Ok, that's getting kinda loud. At least I have these handy headphones. A whiny man-boy complains about his feelings in my ears and I start to get irritated.

dadadadadadadadadadadadadada...

Sounds like a jackhammer...on my head. Bette Midler tries, and fails, to harmonize with the tube. For some reason, I want to break things. Must be the music.

wreee, wreee, wreee, CLANK!

Argh, now it sounds like that noise the phone makes when you forget to hang it up.

WREEE, WREEE, WREEE, clank!

Wonderful, the tube is harmonzing with itself. A regular doo-wop sensation. Rod Stewart's voice fills my head and compared to the rest of the soundtrack sounds rather manly. He rounds out the trio quite well. Puts a little shama lama in this ding dong.

ka-weesh, ka-weesh, ka-weesh

Time to flip over and scan my legs. I will be stuck in a rather uncomfortable position for the next 20 minutes but I deal.

clank, clank, whirrrrrrr!

The extra element of the discomfort added to the loud noises and the god-awful music is more than irritating at this point. Now I want to go outside and start punching people. In the throat. Intersting how rageful I get when trapped in a tube and forced to listen to soft rock.

clickety-clackety-clickety-clackety-clickety-clackety

There must be someone out there who uses this as a method of torture. I'm pretty sure I could stand a few hours of this but after that I'd be spilling my guts. Punching people seems too tame, now I want to kick them in the face. Oh wait, I'd rather start chopping down trees with my feet, like Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer. I'm awesome.

dip-dip-dip-dip, dooo-WAH!, hum-mum-mum-mum, BOP!

Oh these harmonies are fabulous :) I really love doo-wop but this is getting ridiculous. I really don't like lite rock and the combination is beyond ridiculous. "Are we there yet?" I realize every muscle in my body is clenched tight but I'm afraid to relax; I don't want to mess up the scan and have to prolong this madness. Yes, this is definitely a form of torture somewhere in the world.

ka-weesh, ka-weesh, ka-weesh

"That's it, you're all done!" says the friendly tech. I think excessive friendliness is a job requirement for MRI techs. Either that or they should be required to wear throat protection for those patients who come out swinging. By the time I collected myself and my belongings I felt better. My violent urges had subsided and I walked outside into the sunshine and went on my way.

Press on.

more tests

Met with the surgeon yesterday and he told me that he has never seen someone with both Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome and Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome. In fact, there isn't even a case study that exists of someone having both.

Heh, he doesn't know me and my medical history very well.

If he did he would know that if there has never been someone with both, then the chances of me having both are pretty damn good.

I am scheduled for a pre and post exercise MRI on Monday to hopefully get a better idea of what is going on here.

So no answers or explanations yet. I am rather frustrated and despite the gorgeous weather, rather down. I think I will get outside today to lift my spirits.

Press on.

Updates Galore!

My internet has been down all weekend so depending on how soon it gets fixed I may not be able to update again until I go to work on Wednesday night.

The compartment pressure testing showed I definitely have compartment syndrome and I have an appointment on Friday with the surgeon who will perform the fasciotomy. I'll spill all the gory details on what's involved with that surgery later!

I also made the decision to put off any running or lower-body activity until after surgery. I gave it the old college try and sucked it up as long as possible but the pain is just getting to be too much and it's making me tired, both physically and mentally. My pre-op regime will include the goofy arm-bike (try not to snicker please) and the opportunity to get ripped in the weight room! Sweet! Tickets for the Big Guns Show will be on sale soon. Try not to push as you all rush to get in line!

Press on.