Sunday; fame, pain and trauma on the trail.

I got a whole weekend (heck a whole week) in on Sunday.

I got up at 5:30 AM (even though I had stayed up way too late Saturday night watching a sappy movie) and got my apartment cleaned, because I decided to be a slug on Saturday. I was so exhausted from the last couple of week’s fairs, festivals, runs, practices and races that I not only physically didn’t want to go anywhere, I really needed a day away from people. I feel bad about missing the party, but I needed some alone time.

I got packed up for the trip and firewolftracks and Suzi showed up. It seems that whenever I’m scrambling to get ready, EVERYONE calls me. I got THREE phone calls when I was in the shower. We never found Houston, who was supposed to go with us. I called him at 9:15 AM (we were leaving at 9:00 AM) and he didn’t answer his phone. There is a building with the same address of mine (mine’s North, that one is South) four blocks away, so we went and checked there. Then we drove by his place (can’t get in to the building) and called again; no answer. By that time, it was 9:30, and we were late to meet another friend in Olympia.

While I was trying to call Houston, (twice) Molly rang in. The first time I lost both calls, the 2nd time I left Houston the message and still got Molly’s call (she’s the person I let know where we’re going and when to expect us back anyway. As it turns out, my Essay about the murders and safety on the trail, was printed in the Tribune, almost in it’s entirety (they gave me 250 words more than they normally allow)

We never leave for these trips on time anyway, if it’s not shoe drama, or gps drama or map drama, it’s “missing hiking partner drama” Such is life… (I hope he’s OK, the last I heard he was heading to Federal Way on Saturday afternoon to get some printing done.

It’s a fairly long drive out there, but the trail was spectacular. The trail starts out with a gentle, steady incline, and then drops down to the Duckabush River after a couple of miles. We stopped at the river camp for lunch and to get out of the heat.

We continued up the river a ways, and hit the first set of switchbacks. OMG. I lost count, but since it was close to a 1,000 foot elevation gain, let it suffice to say that there were a crapload of them. We came up to the first of the “hump” overlooks, took some pictures and chatted with some girls that were backpacking. The only people we saw all day were the three girls backpacking and one older couple. There were two guys at the trailhead who bailed because they didn’t have a permit and I told them that yes, they would get a ticket there. So out of nine people on the trail that day, eight were women. I’m glad women aren’t afraid to go out and hike.

Then there was the 2nd set of switchbacks, which was about half the elevation gain of the first set, and took up Big Hump. There was another overlook. Suzi and I were still waiting for everyone else to get up the trail, so I took off to make sure we weren’t missing a better viewpoint on the other side of the hump (I just HAD to know what was on the other side of the hump) The “tip top” was heavily forested with no view. I walked down a few switchbacks and saw that the trail descended quickly back down to the river. Not wanting to add too much more climbing to a nine mile trip, I headed back up the hump, got the girls and headed out.

That’s when it happened. I was already at the top of the last hill going out, when I heard my name and Tony and Suzi calling back to our other friend. It’s never good to hear “HELP”. I ran back down the hill, and discovered that she had taken a nasty fall, (thankfully, not on the switchbacks) and had badly dislocated/jammed her shoulder. I got her checked out, no head injury, able to walk (sort of) and got her arm and shoulder immobilized with straps that firewolftracks had brought with her. It was a long haul out of there. There were some complications and difficulties that I won’t go into here, but let’s just say it wasn’t easy and was somewhat traumatic for all of us.

I know that she was originally a bit upset that I would not reset the shoulder. Yes, I was a medic for 13 years and yes I know how to do it. But I also know that if she had a fracture, I could made it worse, and/or caused damage to blood vessels or nerves. If tired it without knowing what was where, I could have crippled her for life. That is not a field procedure (you need X-rays first) unless you are too far out to get to help and it's the only way to get someone out to help. She could move her fingers and she had good capillary refill. It wasn’t even regular dislocation, it was jammed up into the socket. It’s horrible to let someone be in that much pain, but it’s more horrible to cause them irreparable harm.

We got her out and to the emergency room and had a friend of hers who could stay and help get her care and take care of her. There was no way we could leave her in Olympia without someone to take care of her.

Between carrying two packs (mine and hers) and helping support her weight, my right shoulder (the “good” one that wasn’t fractured in the car accident) is in a lot of pain and my back is killing me. I didn’t get to “sleep” until about 4:00 AM, and I kept waking up.

I’m calling her at 10:00 AM to see how she is doing. (I’m sure she’s heavily drugged)

In any event, it was an accident that could have happened to anyone. Tony, Suzi and I kept our cool and worked as a team to get her out and to the medical help she needed.

It is a GREAT hike, here are some pictures.

Checking out the view from the lower overlook.



First view of the River



Our new snake friend



HUCKLEBERRIES!!!



Mossy arch over the trail



The rest of the pictures are available here:

http://www.wildcelticrose.net/lisasplace/duckabushbighump.html

Well, my break’s over, so it’s time for me to get back to work. I hope I can make it through the day. I really feel like crap!

~L

Two years ago, I never would have called a slow five mile run putting “hay in the barn”; but then again, two years ago, I didn’t have two fractured knee caps, a fractured sternum, ribs, shoulder, sprained ankle, closed head injury, and completely tweaked spine and pelvis (that would come two years ago tomorrow)

Two years ago, I never would have considered a 12K race (even if it is one of the most difficult anywhere) something that needed working up to.

In the last two years, I’ve only run ONE race, a 5K. It was slow and it hurt (but it hurt less when I got hardware because no one fast showed up in my age division and I actually ran the whole way without giving up). Last weekend I race-walked (oooh, more hardware) I LOVE shiny things.

This one is the biggie; it’s a turning point; it’s a make or break moment.

I knew that I had to put races on the schedule if I ever hoped to get back into shape and back on a regular training schedule.

I probably have no business doing this race and I will walk if necessary because I haven’t been able to put the training miles in. I’ve been doing a LOT of hiking and backpacking with a very heavy pack. I’ve been doing lots of hill walking. My legs are strong, my cardio vascular system is strong. And my stubborn streak is even stronger.

I AM GOING TO DO THIS!

I have been at a crossroads. I lost my desire to train and run. I was hurt and frustrated. I gained weight, lost strength and lost my confidence.

But Saturday, that all changes because I AM GOING TO DO THIS!

This is my turning point. It’s where I can feel like a runner again. It’s where I know that the accident didn’t beat me.

I ran my five miles on the hills today. Tomorrow I rest, and on Friday, I'm going to take a nice, easy walk/jog to keep things loose. And then Saturday, I do it!

I’m going to waddle.

I’m going to be in the back of the pack.

And I’m going to be one happy penguin to be there!

Sound to Narrows, here I come! http://www.multicare.org/cgi-bin/multicare.dll/multicare/sub2.do?channelName=Sound%20to%20Narrows

~L

Well, if you’re my friend and you break a bone, I’m your bitch.

My plans to go straight home from work, eat, rest and go to bed early to try to get over this crud were thwarted by life.

I got a call from just_molly who had taken a nasty slip and fall at work and was headed to the L&I Doc (since she’s a contractor and not civil service, she couldn’t go to the infirmary at the Sub Base) to see how badly she was injured. As someone who walked around (and briefly even tried to run) on fractured kneecaps, I don’t have room to talk, but she should NOT have driven herself there.

I got the call as I was getting off work that her ankle was fractured and that she needed to go see the orthopedic surgeon ASAP. I hauled butt from work in Sumner to Fife, picked her up and took her in to Tacoma. We still didn’t know if she’d need surgery or not, but I did get a look at the X-Ray at a stoplight and it didn’t look displaced, just very painful. Luckily, she just needed a cast. We picked a bright green one in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. (pictures at the end of the post)

We ran by Trader Joes on the way back to her place in University Place because she HAD to have their ginger snap cookies, then I picked up a Papa Murphy’s pizza. I finally got her to stay down on the recliner and I fed the cats, cooked the pizza and brought her drugs and drinks. I was her “bitch”.

She most certainly did it for me when I fractured my knees, shoulder, sternum, ribs, messed up an ankle and assorted other things including a closed head injury after my car accident (which I should not have flown after) she picked me up at the airport, brought me home, cleaned up Bad Kitty’s attempts at trashing the place and took me to the doctor when I still couldn’t drive.

When she thanked me, I just looked at her and said, “That’s my job”.

When Charlie got home from work, I took him to Fife so he could get her car. (now he gets to be her bitch for a while, at least until I take back over tomorrow night for a while) She can’t drive for at least two weeks and needs to be very careful not to let it displace before it starts to knit.

She’s in a lot of pain but is being a trooper. She gave Charlie a bunch of crap for walking into a pole, breaking his glasses and giving himself a nasty black eye. She’s afraid that she wasn’t quite contrite enough (she gave him major crap) When I called Erin, her daughter, I didn’t want to scare her, so I said, “HEY! Guess who’s a bigger dork than your dad?”

Now, I’m really tired and need to get some sleep.

Here is the picture of her St Patty’s Day cast…



and here she is in all her glory in the orthopedic surgeon’s office



I can’t believe that this was the one day I didn’t put my digital camera back in my purse, I had to settle for the cell phone pictures…

And now, off to bed with me. I feel like crap

~L

OMG… Paquita and I played tennis bright and early this morning at Pac West and this obnoxious guy on the court next to us yelled across the court at his male buddies “OK girls, quit yakking and let’s play”

I felt like saying, “Come over here and say that buddy, I’ll show you who plays like a girl” and then serving him up one of my deadly serves. (and on the off chance he got a racquet on it to return it, stuffing my next shot down his throat and making him cry) I was also tempting to say, “If you’re such a “big man” why are you playing doubles?” but I was a good girl and restrained myself. What an asshat.

I totally sucked this morning. Paquita nailed me 6-1 (or was it 6-2?) She deserved it, I beat her the last two times we played. I do desperately need new court shoes. (not an excuse, she kicked my butt fair and square) I realized that mine are almost five years old. (and I didn’t like them that much when they were new, but they were on sale) Even though they don’t look that worn, I’ve pounded the heck out of them on concrete tennis courts, and even if they hadn’t taken that kind of pounding, they lose their cushion after about a year even if they aren’t used. It’s always a bit hard on the body to play hard doubles on a concrete court, but I can tell the shoes are bad. I’m getting really bad aches and pains in my lower back and sacrum (not helped by the fact that both were broken 9 years ago and then re injured in the car wreck that fractured a bunch of other stuff a year ago last June. We’re only playing on more time before she’s gone for two weeks, so I’m going try to get some discount shoes from tennis warehouse that are better quality (and not old)

I finally got my butt back in the weight room today. I didn’t have to drop my weights too much and there appears to still be some muscle left under the winter flab. I didn’t need to warm up on the elliptical trainer because I was plenty warm from tennis. I showed Paquita what exercises would be good for her, and how to set up and use the machine. Another woman asked if she could tag along, so I ended up giving a little personal training session. If I had the money, I’d get certified to do it. I’ve got the background in medicine, sports and teaching and it would be a great way to earn extra money in my spare time. Some day…

Yesterday afternoon, after I got off work, I grabbed a snack and headed over to the courts at Pt. Defiance to play tennis with Paquita. It was so nice to play outside between the water and the old growth forest. We had a two year old (mottled feather pattern) Bald Eagle fly right over our heads) They are such amazingly beautiful courts. My lower back hurt from the old shoes, but I took the set 6-3 (not quite the butt kicking she unleashed on me this morning). just_molly and I were going to go for a waddle last night, but it was too bloody cold, so we just enjoyed some champagne and a wonderful dinner that she made.

I’ve got some errands to run and then an extra online shift that I picked up at work, (and I really need a shower) so I’ll leave you with pictures of the awesome dinner Molly made last night.

Mmmmm Dungeness Crab…



Our lovely salad with Romaine lettuce, balsamic vinegar, blue cheese chunks, avocado and olives…



Said avocado…



yummy crusty French bread (the kind you purchase half baked and finish baking yourself)…

Not only did I quite literally and figuratively “step in it” this morning, but I did it twice. [sigh]

There’s nothing quite like stepping barefoot in a juicy hairball first thing in the morning. It’s apparently VERY important to Bad Kitty to be certain to barf up said hairball in a location where I am sure to step in it.

Poor Dan heard this first thing this morning… “Eeeeeew!”

Not long after that, said hairball upchucker decided that it was very important to get right under my feet in the dark and I stepped on tail. I think the icky boy had just fallen asleep again after the “Eeeeeew!” incident when he was awakened by the sound of yowled feline outrage. That will certainly get one’s heart pumping in the morning.

At least I didn’t fall on my face on my way out to the trash can today.

My left wrist is still sprained and swollen (the elbow is a little bit better) and my knees are stiff and banged up, but my back and shoulders, which escalated to a full blown whiplash injury yesterday afternoon, feel much better thanks to a certain icky boy that massaged them for me last night. He may be icky, but he’s handy to have around.

A woman in our HR department called me today about a training program for another division up at HQ. She wondered why she hadn’t seen an application from me yet for a different position in that same division. I saw “specialist” on it and decided that I wouldn’t be competitive so I didn’t apply. She seemed to feel that I should apply, so reworked my cover letter and submitted that w/ my resume. How knows… A four grade promotion wouldn’t be bad… Once again, I’m not going to get my hopes up, but the fact that I’ve been noticed by HR and people at HQ is a BIG deal. It’s just a matter of time. I thank the Gods every day that I made the decision to throw caution to the winds, leave the dead end job with the negative work environment and make this career jump.

My new MS Office Professional for XP software shipped day before yesterday, so I should be able to load up my laptop when I get home tonight. I decided that I really do NOT like Corel Word Perfect. I’m glad that Abby (the STAR of the video in my last post) http://www.livejournal.com/users/wildcelticrose/270367.html reminded me about the home purchase program though Microsoft. I paid practically nothing for the software. If I get the job at HQ, I’ll also qualify for other software that I don’t qualify for now because I don’t use it at work.

Speaking of work, I’d best get at it. My break’s over.

~L

I started the day with a bang, and a crash.

I’ve got sore wrists and banged up bloody knees right now. I was taking a huge pile of magazines out to the recycle bin at O’-Dark-Thirty this morning on my way to work and I tripped over one of the railroad ties in the tiered levels leading to the parking area and recycle bin out back (the loud, rude inconsiderate girl downstairs’ car was fully blocking the walkway) and took a good hard fall. My back hurts too [sigh] Oh well, that’s what they make Advil for I guess.

I was going to try to work out or run after work today, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. When I tripped, I was on the ground before I knew what happened so I didn’t get a chance to roll up in a little ball or anything. Both knees and wrists are painful and stiff, one is bloodied up significantly, and I think I’m going to have to go to the doctor for my back because it is majorly tweaked from my hips all the way up to my shoulder blades. At least I have good insurance.

Since this is an OT and Holiday pay week, I’m not taking off work for an appointment so, it will have to wait until next week. I think I’ll spend some quality time in the bathtub this afternoon instead.

The icky boy is coming over tonight and bringing dinner from our favorite little Mexican place. Yummy!!!

So without further ado… My worst knee (after I got most of the blood off)

This weekend has just sucked pond water, and I’m tired of trying to appear “cheerful”. I’m pissed off, in pain, lonely and depressed.

So anyone who’s not interested in/has a low tolerance to all of the above can just stop reading now.

The weekend started out with a sick boyfriend who was home in bed, which was a bummer. Then it progressed to a best friend who was really nasty to me because she had a bad day. She never bothered to tell me that she had a bad day, but just treated me like shit because I couldn’t get to her house as early as she wanted me to before the party. The time challenged icky boy was an hour or two (depending on which initial estimate one goes with) late in coming to pick me up, so I had to work very hard not to take my frustration out on him (his being way late more often than not when coming from Olympia is an issue and it did cause a problem this time. I also really hate having my time disrespected in generally, and this time in particular, because I could have worked my day out differently had I known earlier) In any event, yes it was a problem, but I’m not going to ruin an evening by taking it out on someone I love. Shit happens

So back to my best friend… I couldn’t just jump in my stick shift truck and drove right over that that point because of my back. She slammed the phone down on me before I could tell her that I’d hurt my back. When we got there, an hour before the party started and I tried to help, she was really horrible to me. Everyone has their moments, but when I’ve had a bad day, I at least try to let the people around me know what happened in case I’m cranky. The way I was treated defies description, and having a bad day is no excuse to treat anyone like that. To make it even worse, she invited some people to this party (through a group invitation) who I have disassociated myself from because they were very toxic and destructive people who have intentionally caused me grief. When two of the worst offenders (who she can’t stand either) RSVP’d (whether they were really planning on coming or if they did it to yank her chain, we’ll never know), she didn’t even warn me. Yes, it’s her house, but as far as I’m concerned, that was a HUGE breach of trust. I should have at least been given the option to bail out (I could have sent the karaoke machine with someone else) but it never occurred to her to warn me, just to treat me like shit because of her bad day. For that matter, my house or not, I would NEVER invite someone that she had issues with to a party we were co-hosting, more or less without warning.

Basically, I spent the whole evening in tears (a good portion of it because I was in terrible pain and the other because I felt very hurt and betrayed). If I had my own truck, I would have gone home. I so desperately wanted to go home. But I tried not to let people know how hurt and upset I was. She may be my best friend, and we’ll work this out, but I am hurt by the way she treated me (and even more so by the fact that she felt having had a bad day was an excuse to treat me that way and that I shouldn’t be upset) and feel extremely betrayed.

I’m still very exhausted by the overtime and 4:00 AM wakeups. We didn’t get to bed until after midnight, which is pretty darn late for me right now. The Icky Boy had to go to work today because he doesn’t have any sick leave with the new job and left work Friday sick. He also has a project that he needs to finish. So he and I really didn’t get any quality time. He showed up late, we ran to the party, which was a miserable experience for me, came back and went to sleep. He was still feeling sick (and I think a bit hung over) and is still recovering from surgery, this morning and I was in pain.

Next week is going to suck because it’s more 10 hour shifts and the most stressful week of the year we have at work. If my back’s not better, it’s going to be excruciatingly painful as well.

I’m really stressed out and nervous because after next week, it’s going to be a desperate scramble for hours. The promotion I applied for with guaranteed hours and way more money has been put “on hold”. I’m barely hanging on financially now and am stressed to the breaking point in that respect. At least before, I had hope of improving my financial situation before something drastic happens. Now I have none. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE where I work and it was the best decision I made in my life to go there. I was just too deeply in debt from the divorce and car accident to ever catch up.

I don’t even want to talk to my best friend. I’m too upset right now. I feel hurt and betrayed and don’t want to have a big blowout with her over it because it wouldn’t do any good. We have to accept people the way they are (she knows how she treated me and pretty much blew me off and got pissed when it was upset and didn’t say, “Oh that’s OK, you had a bad day; my feelings don’t matter.” So I’m going to have to learn to deal with differences in communication. (and I don’t think it’s a good idea to co-host a party with her again)

So here I sit, feeling sorry for myself, in too much physical pain to go do anything and feeling very much alone. (and of course, since I feel like shit, I’m dwelling on the fact that my boyfriend will not even be in the state for Christmas, so I get to spend yet another one alone)

How pathetic am I?

~L

I wasn’t quite sure what to blog about tonight. [updated picture below the injury picture]

Should I rant about the Iraq war? (a big fat “Fuck you Dick Cheney!” has been in my head for a while), as has been a rant about those who issue the “if you aren’t with us, you’re against us edicts; It’s there way or the highway by golly. Nope, tired of dealing with that one and the people who spew it. If you can't at least try to see someone else's point of view, or if you insist on telling people what they think or what their intent is, don't waste my time, it's not a reasonable discussion.

Should I write about the icky boy’s recovery and overwhelming desire to get off his pain meds and start driving before he’s supposed to (a discussion that ended in my saying, “You’re an adult, and you can do what you want; You heard what they said at the hospital and what I think about it, so I’m not going to nag you and am not willing to discuss it any more) We aren’t fighting. As a matter of fact, he’s been wonderful. To be quite honest, I’ve done much worse stuff, much sooner, with my body much more badly screwed up (like driving a stick shift nearly two hours from my home above Grand Junction Colorado, the last 30 minutes of it on a hideously wash boarded dirt road in the mountains above Aspen two days after being released from an eight day hospital stay with a fractured spine and pelvis in order to be there for a friend’s special day) But that’s not the point. We’re not talking about me. Do as I say, not as I do darn it!

So what, you may ask, did Lisa decide to blog about tonight?

Sometimes the universe slaps us upside the head. So this is my stupid story...

The only thing dumber than getting hurt opening a bottle of champagne is letting your one armed boyfriend take the first crack at it. Every now and then, there is a cork put in a bottle of Cook’s Brut champagne that is so huge at the bottom that no amount of pulling, tweaking, twisting or using a towel to get more traction on the little bugger will work. I’ve resorted to some very drastic measures to get the cork out. The dumbest one is, cutting the round part of the cork off the top with a steak knife, and then using a corkscrew to pull the rest out.

Just before I did the deed, I realized that I had allowed a man with one good arm (the other one in a sling and attached to a shoulder that had been cut on just yesterday) to try to open it. I had a momentary lapse while sitting at my computer when he asked, “Do you want some champagne?” I guess the last couple nights of no sleep distracted me and I muttered, “Sure, that would be nice.” After a time, and some strange noises, he walks into the living room with a bottle of champagne and a sheepish grin because he couldn’t get it opened. I slapped myself in the forehead for being a dork and then took it back to the kitchen (not over the keyboard or carpet thank you very much)

I pushed and pulled, tweaked and twisted; It wasn’t going to come out the “natural” way.

Just as I had cut half the cork top off with a steak knife I said, “You didn’t shake this up when you tried to open it did you? I’d hate to get hit in the face with a flying cork screw or knife.”

Well that cursed it.

I got the top of the cork off, but didn’t get the corkscrew into the remaining cork straight. I no sooner had the question out of my mouth that KABLOOEY!!! It hit the glass and shattered the top of the bottle down to the bottom of the foil. If they didn’t wrap those things with foil, who knows what would have happened to my dumb ass. The very top of the bottle cracked in half and the one piece that came flying off cut the crap out of my finger.

It was difficult to take a picture that truly told this story, with my left hand (cameras are set up for right handed people) while my right hand bled like a stick pig.



[update]

Here's what the bottle looked like after I unwrapped the foil. I'm never touching champagne bottle or cork without a towel wrapped around both again. I can only imagine what could have happened had one of these shards flown at me. I was lucky to only have the one cut.



There’s really not much to say after that one.

~L

I do not have black eyes, swelling or a skinned up nose. It still hurts, but at least it doesn’t look bad. For those who haven’t yet “felt my pain” or laughed at my silly ass; the story is available here http://www.livejournal.com/users/wildcelticrose/236254.html

The system migration just gets worse and worse. My process was still trying to run when I came in this morning, so I said “to heck with it!” and just did a CTL-ALT-DLT to end the program. I got an error message saying that needed to allow it more time to run, which earned yet another “to heck with it” (it had been running since Friday at 3:15 PM, which I think is more than enough time for a 10 minute process) and my pounding on the enter key to hit the “end now” button and muttering some things a bit worse than "heck". That ended that, but I'm "in a mood"

At least my computer hasn’t been migrated; those whose profiles have migrated to XP can not use the programs on the AS400 system. Maggie and I have a huge report and a crap load of work, so it’s a good thing that we’re on the old system. If an IT person tries to get near me, my computer or my profile they are in BIG trouble.

And just to make the day even more amusing, it’s “National Talk Like a Pirate Day” and the upper management and the IT department are taking it pretty seriously. (I do not have enough caffeine in my system to deal with this quite yet and I didn't sleep worth a darn last night)

My favorite icky boy called me as he was getting home last night around 8:00 PM, so I know that he’s safe and sound. I think I’ll get some steamer clams for a nice dinner tonight.

And for fun, here’s some Pirate silliness snerked from hughcasey

Top Ten Pickup lines for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?

9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?

8. Come on up and see me urchins.

7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.

6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.

5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?

4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?

3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.

2. Well blow me down?

And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …

1. Prepare to be boarded.

Bonus pickup lines (when the ones above don't work, as they often won't)
They don’t call me Long John because my head is so big.

You’re drinking a Salty Dog? How’d you like to try the real thing?

Wanna shiver me timbers?

I’ve sailed the seven seas, and you’re the sleekest schooner I’ve ever sighted.

Brwaack! Polly want a cracker? … Oh, wait. That’s for Talk Like a PARROT Day.

That’s the finest pirate booty I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Let's get together and haul some keel.

That’s some treasure chest you’ve got there.

And, by popular demand ...

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Lady Pirates

10. What are YOU doing here?

9. Is that a belayin' pin in yer britches, or are ye ... (this one is never completed)

8. Come show me how ye bury yer treasure, lad!

7. So, tell me, why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"

6. That's quite a cutlass ye got thar, what ye need is a good scabbard!

5. Aye, I guarantee ye, I've had a twenty percent decrease in me "lice ratio!"

4. I've crushed seventeen men's skulls between me thighs!

3. C'mon, lad, shiver me timbers!

2. RAMMING SPEED!

...and the number one Female Pirate Pick-up Line:

1. You. Pants Off. Now!


~L

ME !!!

I think I’ve just guaranteed myself an in person interview for early next week. Why you ask? Because it’s entirely possible that I’ll have two black eyes.

I have the dumbest accidents. Today, I was cleaning out the kitty box. Kitty’s potty space is in the bottom area of a pantry like linen closet in my bathroom. I leave the bottom cabinet open a crack so that she can get in and out. The separate, top cabinet is where my linens, etc… are stored. Normally, the top cabinet is closed, but I had an extra towel hanging on it to dry so it was open several inches. After I refilled the kitty box with fresh litter, I stood straight up and knocked myself on my ass, scoop still in hand, by standing up quickly, bonking my nose on the bottom of the to cabinet door and knocking over two of my potted plants. My eyes teared up, my nose got red and swollen (and I think I knocked a bit of skin off the end) and then I bled all over the place. I can count the number of nosebleeds I’ve had in my life on one hand and still have fingers left over, so it was a good bonk.

I can not describe the lack of dignity involved in landing on one’s butt in a pile of potting soil and (thankfully clean) kitty litter (oh yes and a puddle of water from the watering can that I also knocked over) with a scoop in one hand and the offending towel over my head while my own blood dripped on my bathroom rug. I doubt anyone could have written a predicament that embarrassing. (and of course the bad kitty looked at me like I was stupid)

So… On with the less eventful portion of my day. I was up bright and early for choir rehearsal and our church performance today. I was pretty stressed out and nervous. There weren’t very many of us because it was the first performance of the season and not everyone gets geared up right away. It’s also weird not having our choir director. Mary is doing an AWESOME job as interim director, but it’s still a bit weird. We were a small group that hadn’t (in my opinion) had enough practice, but since most of us have done this piece before, we pulled it off well. It was an African arrangement of Amni Atupi (translates to “Bring us Pease; Give us Courage” in Kenyan) Steven played my Djembe, Horward played the gourd rattle and I played my shaker. (pictures at the end of this post)

After church (and my unfortunate “incident” in the bathroom) I headed over to Betsy’s to help her pick up and move a new mattress and box springs. After that, we came over to my place and walked down and around the waterfront for some exercise (and has an excuse to get a burger and a beer at the RAM) The look on her face was priceless when I suggested a 7 ½ mile walk. I think she’s still traumatized from the walk back up to my place after Dragon Boat races on the 4th of July.

Now, I’m going to put some more ice on my nose and take a nice hot bath.

Here are some pics from today…





~L

It’s been an insanely busy day and I still really haven’t had time to decompress from "the news". I managed to fit in a day working at REI (in my new capacity as “specialist”), then lunch, a trip to the gym (YES!!! I finally got back to the gym and worked out; hopefully, this is the beginning of the return of my good habits and feeling good) and a fast 5 mile walk in hilly woods of my favorite park (wrong shoes and bra for running) before heading off for the security gig this evening. It was tempting to stay home and sulk between jobs, but I know that’s not what I needed to do.

I think one of the big things that hit me about the deaths of our Mountaineer friends on the mountain this week (as of this time, they have not announced the name of the 3rd death) is that they died doing what they loved. Jo was experienced and was teaching others. No one screwed up. It was a rock fall (two actually), an act of nature/god/universe/destiny that was unforeseen, unpreventable and basically falls under the heading of “shit happens”.

Some feel that dying in one’s sleep is the “best” way to go. I’m not so sure. Dying doing what one loves in an area of amazing natural beauty and energy, knowing that you have lived life to it’s fullest and on your terms, is pretty darn awesome. I made peace with the fact that I might have died from injuries sustained in a river guiding accident in 1997 http://www.wildcelticrose.net/lisasplace/stories.html The feeling of accepting death, is a beautiful and peaceful thing. If you haven’t been “near death”, it’s difficult to explain. As a paramedic, I've watched many elderly people pass over when it was their time. This may sound weird, but it's a beautiful thing.

I’ve been tossing around some ideas for a post on the changes I’ve made in my life over the last year, and I just don’t have time to do it right now (it’s been a long day) but the gist of it is…

There is a BIG difference between life and LIVING.

Last year at this time, I was stuck in a dead end job, with a jealous, lying, manipulative co-worker that no matter how much I tried to just avoid her, would not get out of my face or quit trying to cause problems, and then a new executive director who’s idea of "management" was to jump to conclusions (usually the wrong ones), yell, scream and be abusive. (had caused his downfall before and likely will again) Between the two of them (the previous two executive directors were fine) I was waking up at 1:30 in the morning with my heart pounding all stressed out about work and then woke up again I the morning with a sense of dread, not wanting to get out of bed. That is NO way to live. Nothing, not even food/rent/surviving a nasty divorce is worth that.

I was in excruciating pain from all the fractures (both knees, left shoulder, sternum) and other injuries (back, pelvis, ankle, head) from the car accident and thought that I might never be able to do the things I loved again.

I was still wasting time and energy on people that weren’t worth it.

It was a tough summer. I wasn’t “living”; I was “surviving” as well as fighting off depression.

THIS summer, is “difficult” for different reasons.

I’m working two jobs (for which I should be thankful, I know plenty of people who can’t find one in today’s economy) and never seem to have time to rest or relax. REI had been what I thought was an “unobtainable dream for so long” but worked out beyond my expectaions. To have taken the risk, made the leap of faith, and been one of the few to actually get a permanent job with benefits out of the pool of 300 is awesome. I’ve received several raises and two promotions in 8 months. It’s a WONDERFUL work environment and the benefits are THE BEST. It’s been rough, but the payoff in all areas is more than worth it. (a bonus is that psycho bitches aren't allowed to work there and management, really knows how to empower, motivate and manage)

Even the security gig (which I frequently complain about) has bent over backwards to accommodate my schedule. One of my supervisors is working a triple shift tonight to cover for me because someone F_______ up and got themselves fired. The high profile retail operation I work on Sundays loves me and requested from my company that I be there full time (they explained that I have “other obligations” and I’ve been told by my company that if “anything happens with my regular job" that I have a supervisor position any time I want it (not the way they work their supervisors, but it’s nice to be appreciated) I may work too much, but neither place sucks. I no longer dread my day when I wake up in the morning.

The injuries from the accident have healed surprisingly well (I never should have survived being sideswiped, spinning out and slamming into a concrete barrier at 75 mph in the first place) When I want on the backpacking trip in April, with my sprained ankle and severely overloaded pack, EVERYTHING on my body hurt. With the exception of my knees; I was afraid that I’d never be able to run again because of the knee fractures. But they’re fine.

I’ve learned to be more careful about who I let into my life on an intimate level and to cut people loose that are toxic, co-dependent, jealouse, insecure, disloyal etc…

My lesson in life is that I am not required to “save” people or to put up with any major bullshit. I DESERVE healthy, functional relationships in which I receive as well as give. It will take the rest of this life to fully learn and apply that one, but I’m off to a good start.

THIS year, even though it’s been challenging, and difficult. I’ve chosen to LIVE my life, not just “exist” or “survive”

In addition to the huge changes from last year, I’ve taken back my schedule and limited time and am getting more exercise, eating better, and spending more time with friends that are healthy and happy and make me feel healthy and happy.

I’m returning to the woman who accepted the possibility of impending death so many years ago on the banks of the Colorado River. I've missed her.

Live life to it’s fullest and leave this world with no regrets…

That’s it for now, I need some sleep. Tomorrow is another insane day working both jobs…

~L

Since scarletdemon shared her "seatbelt burn" pictures and the pic of what was left of her car, I thoght I'd share mine. The seatbelt may have fractured my shoulder, ribs and sternum, but it and the airbag saved my life. I could not have survived such a forceful head on impact without them. PLEASE people... WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS !!!



And one of my fractured knees from the engine deciding that it liked the passenger compartment better than the engine compartment...



I still have no idea how my groin got bruised (panty shot for you pervert men...)



What was left of my car after being sideswiped at 75 mph and spun out, head on into a concrete wall...



So you see... We are "sisters in pain"

And now... [drum roll please] the infamous "Unitarian Jihad meme" (and I are one)

My Unitarian
Jihad Name is: Sister/Brother Sword of Warm Humanitarianism.

Get yours.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/08/DDG27BCFLG1.DTL


Now, for a nap. I have more (details to follow; I am too tired from said details to post about them) debauchery to engage in this evening...

~L

I got a letter from an insurance company today regarding the accident in June in California.

I've been dreading the possibilities of lawsuits and other nasty stuff that happens in these really big pile ups. I've been in too much pain and was way too stressed out to even consider requesting my copy of the accident report. Between it being dark, everything happening so fast and some short term memory loss from shock and my brain slapping back and forth inside my skull; I wasn't able to tell the investigators much or identify either the vehicle that ran me off to road or the one that hit me. I was afraid I might be the "easy scapegoat" OR that it would be one of those "no one's at fault so everyone's at fault" situations where everyone goes after the person with the best insurance. I had rental car company insurance and my personal auto insurance (which according to the rental car company doesn't get involved)so in theory, that could have been me. I was the only one injured, but you never know when some low life will suddenly decide to cry "Whiplash!" if they think they can make a buck off of it.

I had one phone message from an insurance company about the accident, which I didn't respond to. I'm not giving out any information without a written request, a copy of the report and advice from my attorney (luckily, my Mom works for a law office in California where this happened)

I've been in too much pain and struggling in too many other areas of my life right now to deal with all of that (and the law says we all have a year in which to do so) so I've put it on the back burner in order to try to keep my stress level down, to heal, and to try to get back to somewhat of a "normal" life...

Well guess what the other insurance company (insuring the carload of teenagers that I suspected, but couldn't say with any certainty caused the whole mess) sent me?

A CLAIM FORM!!!

YES!!! THEY want to pay ME !!!

When I'm ready, I can get reimbursed for all these medical expenses that I've been having to pay up front.

I'll be in the office for a couple of hours this morning and then I'm taking our new Education and Outreach Coordinator and our outgoing EO Assistant on a kayak tour/patrol. It's a gorgeous day. The salmon are running, so we may seen them leaping in the air at the mouth of the river and will also see lots of harbor seals. We'll also stop by one of the waterfront restaurants with a dock for lunch.

My evening plans changed a bit so now, michealene is coming over to practice guitar and if I'm not in too much pain, I "might" try to go play (or at least watch) the Mountaineer's Volleyball game. I'm going to take a good dose of Aleve because the kayaking is really gonna hurt !!!

Well, I've got a long day ahead of me, so I'd best get at it...

~L

Don't forget... At the end of the week, I'll be locking entries of a more personal nature...

This means that in order to read “the good stuff” you’ll have to get a Live Journal account, let me know what it is, and have me add you to my “friends” list.

To get a FREE Live Journal account go to https://www.livejournal.com/create.bml

When you set it up, let me know your user name, and I’ll add you to my freinds list so that you can read my “locked” entries…

~L

Yes... it's a "Mad Moose" icon day

I've had a very productive day so far (despite the fact that I came in sore, tired and with a crappy attitude) so I'm treating myself to a couple of Oreo cookies and an "LJ break"

I thought the reason that I didn't sleep worth a darn last night was the "almost still" full moon and that stupid Naproxen (Aleve) I NEEDED to take something for the back pain last night, but that stuff always agitates me.

As it turns out, it was more than that... It was one of "those" night. Yes, the nights where the dreams are scary only in the fact that they are prophetic. It's been a while. I guess since I've unloaded so much "crap" out of my life the last couple of weeks, my "sight" is opening back up again.

Dream number one was one of those "frustrated" dreams that I get when I'm either worried about something or agitated by medication or caffeine. I haven't been worried about anything major, so that's not it. They're not scary, they're not nightmares; they just piss me off.

So I was pissed at my lawyer and what a crappy and incomplete job he did on my divorce which will have been final for a year next month. It wasn't an ex husband dream, it was an ex lawyer dream.

This morning when I get to work, a packet of the stuff that he had not bothered to do until now arrived in the mail....

I also had some work frustration dreams; wrong doing, back stabbing, unfairness. They were hazy and images, people and places faded in and out. There was a firing. I don't remember much about it, but I didn't wake up thinking it was me.

So this morning I get a call from someone that I'm close enough to that we have "shared" dreams before and know when the other one is in trouble. They got laid off this morning. All I can say is that they are better off because the company they were working for used and abused them and they can and will do much better (and in the long run this will turn out to be a good thing) but it's hard to get past being pissed off at the way things come about. Some things are just wrong. I'm angry for them and can't do anything but be supportive, let them grieve (because even leaving a bad situation like that is painful) and be there for them. GAK.

The third dream was a brief "sense" of someone who's been messing with me for a while (for no reason other than someone else, with very selfish intentions has manipulated them into doing it) and all I can say is that I wouldn't want their karma... This person knows that they are wrong and If I were them, I'd straighten up and fly right while they still can.

Yeah, it's a "Mad Moose" icon kind of day.

So obviously, it's been a challenge to have a good attitude today, but I'm managing pretty well (most of the time) despite the lack of sleep, weird psychic stuff bouncing around in my head, and the usual post injury aches and pains.

I went to the park at lunch to practice my fiddle. The weather had been gray, cold and slightly windy, but it cleared and warmed up beautifully and I had a very pleasant practice. I didn't have too many distractions (those listening kept a respectful distance instead of coming up to talk to me) and none of my buddies showed up to play today. It's fun when they do, but it's nice on some days to just play alone and get a full 1/2 of hard practice in. I'm finally getting those nasty runs of triplets in "Harvest Home" down and my nerve damage from the fractured shoulder is healing, because I actually played "Swallowtail Jig" correctly and at a decent speed. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to play that ONE song since the accident. It must be the fingering pattern.

Well, breaks over...

Journaling and chocolate... not a bad way to spend a break and improve one's attitude...

~L

Whew...

What a weekend...

Friday was different than I planned. Unfortunately, I didn't get up to Seattle to see nilo or _nymphette_ for the pool party. I'm really disappointed, but between the boat breaking down and my having to patrol on Friday and my back hurting like it was, there was just no way. I had a heck of a time even getting out of my place after I came home for lunch on Friday. I'm used to hearing sirens because there is a hospital fairly close by, but I heard more than usual (and bigger vehicles) and stepped outside to see a fire in one of the apartment buildings down one block across the street, which blocked off all the streets in our neighborhood. It looks like everyone got out OK and that the fire only got one apartment (of course the smoke and water damage usually nails several others).

After work, michealene and Rick came over, then Molly showed up with WAY TOO MUCH cheap champagne. We had a blast, but let it suffice to say that I had a hangover on Saturday morning. I mean a "I haven't been this sick in 20 years, college level hangover" OMG!!! How do people do that to themselves every weekend? Not only did I suffer the indignity (of my stupidity) of "praying to the porcelain goddess" in the morning, but in my haste to get to said "fixture", I knocked over one of my potted herbs and was literally on my knees in the dirt retching my guts out. I can add that to the ever growing list of "not one of my more dignified moments" It IS my own fault, but I asked Molly NOT to bring that much over again. It's easy to loose track, when I get all giggly and silly; especially when I hadn't eaten enough beforehand.

So, I got absolutely nothing constructive done on Saturday. No run, no music practice; just laying on the couch wishing I could keep something down so that I could take some Ibuprofen, not just for the headache but for my back... UGH!!! I can't believe that people do crap like that every weekend (and BRAG about it). What a waste of a day. What a waste of a life. But... I have no choice but to laugh at myself or this one (and NOT do it again)

The party was an absolute BLAST and we had an amazing turn out in cluding a lot of cool folks from the Mountaineers. Luckily, I had recovered by then. Linda fed me pretzels and Pepsi (I get paid once a month on the 5th, so I don't have any money at the end of the month for stuff like that) and I was able to take some ibuprofen so that my back wouldn't hurt so bad. Of course, dancing like a maniac wasn't that great an idea. I just have to be bad sometimes. I sang until I didn't have a voice left.

I was supposed to meet "T" on the waterfront today, but he flaked out.

I went down and practiced my fiddle for about an hour and had a blast. One very nice older gentleman on a bicycle stopped by. As it turns out, he's been playing mandolin for about as long as I've been playing fiddle and has been working on the same piece I was. I told him about our sessions. He doesn't live in the area, but his son and daughter in law do, so he'll try to make it when he can. I couldn't see if he had a wedding ring on under his bike glove, but I think Linda might like him...

Several other people came by to talk, listen, take pictures, etc... so it was a pleasant afternoon and "T" not showing up was't a crisis. I just loath having my time disrespected.

When I finally heard from "T" this evening, he didn't even have a decent excuse, for flaking out (other then he missed my email this morning by 30 minutes; if he only checked email once, very early, "the morning of" and hadn't bothered to contact me at all the previous two days, he's obviously not that interested and/or is a total flake), forget that. If he's going to be a flake when he's supposed to be trying to make a good impression what would he be like to date?

He asked if we could "try again next weekend?", and I told him,

"At this point, I'm not real excited about setting aside time and having another "communication failure". I "made" time for you this weekend and missed out on other things I could have been doing. If you happen to be in the area on Saturday afternoon, when our little jam happens (which is weather dependent) feel free to stop by and say "Hi"; otherwise, I can't make any promises."

If that doesn't say, "I'm not impressed; you had your chance and blew it." I don’t know what does.

NO THANK YOU!!! I made excuses for my ex-husband's bad behavior, I allowed "D", "M" and "A" to be inconsiderate clods for too long. I'm NOT going there again. I deserve better and I'd rather be alone than "settle" for someone lacking in common courtesy, respect for my time or manners. It's not like "alone" is an issue anyway. I have plenty of options available. I'm just not desperate or in a rush.

And now the cut/link for the city, underwear and sword memes...

( Read more... )

Well, I've got dishes to do, guitar to practice, a back to get on the ma roller and stretch out and work to get ready for.

~L

It's been a long day. We had a staff meeting at work (and we all know that I'd rather be poked in the eye with a sharp stick than attend a meeting) and like a dumbass, I sat on a chair instead of my swiss exercise ball. Not any chair mind you, but a hard metal folding chair. That pretty well toasted me for the day.

I tried to play fiddle in the park at lunch, but by that point, I hurt too much to sit on the bench, so I went home after 25 minutes or so, stretched, got on the ma roller, forgot to take some Naproxyn and after I started feeling better, went down to do a boat patrol. And I had a [drum roll please] Dead Boat. I talked to the guy I'm leasing it from and he's fixing it first thing in the morning; evidentially, the last time he tried to "fix" the distributor cap and chunk fell off of it [sigh]

I'll feel a lot better by tomorrow so it's all good. I went to yoga tonight. Luckily, Loretta was there, so I didn’t have to lead, but we had our usual "spirited debate" over whose turn it was to lead (and if the terms we were using in said debate were PC or not, which made it even funnier) It was pretty hot in the church. I really seemed to be lacking in energy. Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps the pain [which is the only thing that got me out of leading]. Most likely, it was a bit of both.

Peggy came by and brought the cutest prizes for the costume contest at our karaoke party on Saturday. I even managed to get all my karaoke songs cataloged in an Excel spread sheet; so now, people can look at the list, put it on a request sheet and find it the correct CD. I don’t have a huge number of songs, but 217, isn’t bad (205 actually, because 12 are duplicates). soniclibra is going to send me some copies of hers. She has quite the collection. Perhaps she'll just bring them and come to the party.

Oh yeah, more meme madness...


( Yes, more memes; one is EVIL and one is NAUGHTY )

Well, I've got some guitar practice to get in and then need to get ready for bed. Tomorrow is a long day, and I also have social activities planned as well...

~L

It's been a "wild ride" this year (to say the least) filled with loss, physical and emotional pain and some (seemingly) overwhelming challenges.

Things are calming down nicely; when I look around at my life, I am so incredibly blessed to have so many wonderful people who love me that have really been there for me through it all.

My injury recovery seems to be getting back on track. I can even sit in a real chair now and the fractures have healed.

I’ve been staying home as much as possible, taking the full dose of medication, doing my physical therapy, getting on the ma roller and removing as much of the extraneous stress and BS from my life as possible. Life will never be perfect (wouldn’t that be boring?) but it’s definitely headed in the right direction.

Tomorrow is a half day in the office, then a boat patrol, then yoga, then some music practice, and then of course REST.

At some point, I need to find time to catalog my Karaoke CDs. I only have about 15, but if I can label and catalog them and do “request sheets” like in clubs, it will make the karaoke part of the party go much smoother.

We’ve got a great, eclectic mix of folks coming, Linda’s co-workers, mountaineers, Unitarians, other friends from various community organizations. This is going to be a blast.

And, I’m going to be seeing “T” on Sunday.

( click here for silly potion and lunatic memes )

Time for me to get ready for bed… Tomorrow is a long day…

~L

Well, the combination of anti-inflammatory meds, narcotics (yes they were legally prescribed) the ma roller, stretching and resting have helped a lot. (and WOW, did I ever sleep well last night)

For once, I'm actually better off sitting in a chair instead of on the ball which tells me this is muscular rather than sructural. As long as I can keep the muscles loose, they won't pull the pelvic bones out of place again.

I'm bringing my ma roller to work.

Speaking of which, I need to get there...

( click here for the memes )

~L

Well, my back is way too messed up to survive a full day at work without the pain meds that I can only take at home. No driving, working or walking around the neighborhood on narcotic pain killers for this girl; so I took off early. I'm working a long day on Wednesday, so it's all good.

Once the muscles relax (they're starting to do so nicely) I can get on the ma roller (which I haven't been able to do since yesterday) and try to get things back where they are supposed to be. My doctor can't get me in today, so I've got to do the best self care I can.

I think I'm going to have to cancel a lot of the plans I had for this week, but I won't know until I see how my back is going to respond to the meds, yoga and ma roller. I'm going to cut and past some stuff in to the journal and then go lay down...

So the guys who took my picture in the park at lunch the other day, as part of their scavenger hunt emailed me a copy. I don’t know which is funnier, the fact that I’m playing wearing a suit or that I’m next to what is billed as the “worlds largest totem pole”; how Pacific Northwest is that?



( click here for the memes )

Well, the meds are kicking in nicely... Time to go get horizontal...

~L

Wow...

At the hottest part of the day, 6:00 PM, it was a nice cool 77 degrees instead of the 97 it was yesterday. I actually turned the fans off because they were annoying me.

I was a total slug today. I logged in 9 1/2 miles of walking/running yesterday and am trying to wean myself off of the expensive anti-inflammatory medicaton. I slept in (BAD girl ditched church, it's not like I had to sing so it's OK) and did very minimal house stuff. My low back hurts bad, so I did just take some Celebrex. I think that perhaps I shouldn't walk long distances on concrete in my Birkenstocks. They have good support, but no cushion. That's the only thing I can think of that I've done differently the last two days.

I was a BAD BAD BAD girl and bid on a cheap mandolin on Ebay. It will arrive next week, total cost to my door $40. If and when I get good at it, I will get a better one (which is what I keep telling myself about the fiddle and guitars, all of which were bargains) My instrument wall had a hole where a mandolin will fit perfectly. They are tuned the same as a fiddle and I did play one (granted it cost several thousand dollars more than the one I bought) at Wintergrass and can make music come out of it. It's good to be versatile.

Well, I need to get some guitar practice in (already did the fiddle) and rest my poor back.

~L

Well, today was my first day back at work full time.

I had a meeting this afternoon/evening so I didn’t go in until 10:00 AM. I’m still a bit off my sleep schedule, so I slept in until 7:00 AM and then went to the gym.

It was my first work out in two months (first I was on the road, then all banged up) I dropped my weights down by 40%. I was really concerned about the fractured shoulder, but it’s been 6 weeks and the fractures are healed. (and the way I grow bone, those fracture “collars” are bombproof) The shoulder still pops now and then, but the weight workout didn’t hurt at all (damn, my pecs are sore though…) The only thing I didn’t have to modify was my abdominal and back workouts. I could do all the crunches and couldn’t do less than 110 pounds on the machine back extensions. I guess sitting on the swiss exercise ball instead of a desk chair really does keep the core muscles strong. Of course, I have worked really hard to keep my back and abdominal muscles strong over the years (which is part of the reason that that when they seize up it really hurts)

I managed a full 8 hours of work today and went out to the park to play fiddle at lunch. My attorney friend was there, but didn’t have his fiddle. He listened to me and I let him play mine for a song or two. He’s going to start showing up for our session on Saturdays. I haven’t practiced as much as I’d like (the posture required for violin/fiddle is strenuous on an injured spine and it’s easier to slump on the couch with a guitar) but I haven’t done too badly. He was very impressed with “Harveset Home” which has a very difficult and fast run of 4 sets of triplets, which I nailed.

I only did 2 miles on the waterfront. I was concerned about time and the pounding that concrete gives joints and bones. I’ll do 3 tomorrow (not sure yet if it will be a walk or run). As far as I’m concerned, less than 5 miles isn’t a workout (even now) I’ll do 5 on Friday (likely a walk/run combo) and a longer run on Saturday with the gang.

Now that I’m weaning myself off of the Celbrex (can’t afford it and don’t want my body “needing” arthritis medicine) I’m taking Glucosamine for my knees and have been taking extra vitamins, calcium and magnesium. When I start long runs again (more than 90 minutes) I’ll take L-Lysine (amino acid that keeps the body from eating muscle) again.

I sat longer today than I have in a long time and it really hurt, but I am getting better. It only takes a short walk/stretch break to help. I have to deal with the fact that this type of injury will hurt for at least one year if not two.

My ma roller has been my saving grace. As a matter of fact, I need to get on it right now and then get to bed.

I’ve had a few folks ask about the Ma Roller. Rather than try to describe/explain, I have the documentation that came with it scanned. It is a yoga tool and requires a basic knowledge of breathing and relaxation techniques, but it can honestly save people trips to the chiropractor…





This thing has saved my butt more than once

~L

I've noticed that in the last week or two, that spending less time on line, and being picky about the where and how I do spend that time really makes a difference in my perspective.

After unsubscribing from all the public pagan lists, where those with small lives argue about who's "real" or not, and spending more time on my running and music lists, where people encourage and support each other unconditionally, I'm feeling a lot better about people in general.

I posted about getting out and exercising this weekend and it being very painful (I thought it was a pretty major whine).

I received an email off list from an older gentlemen who is dealing with a chronic back injury, serious pain and associated depression. He said that he had been laying around feeling sorry for himself until he read my post; so he picked himself up, took his dog for a walk and felt much better.

A day or two later, another woman on the same running list said that his post motivated her to get out for a run when she wasn't feeling motivated.

That my friends, is the ripple effect.

One tiny pebble, one tiny action can affect so many others lives, even if we never know it.

Perhaps we'd all do well to keep that in mind the next time we're tempted to fling shit in to the pond instead...

~L

On an unrelated note, I didn't sleep worth a darn last night (even with an extra Tylenol #3). I'm not sure if it was the pain from overdoing or the fact that I had a 2nd cup of coffee yesterday.

No extra caffeine for me today.

I'm glad that I'm still only working half days, I want to go home and lay down.

Taking my medication, doing yoga, stretching, moderate exercise, not sitting more than 4 hours per day (working part time) and using the Ma Roller every night is working. My back is getting a lot better.

Now, I can’t tell if my knees and shoulder are getting worse, or if now that the back is getting better, I’m just noticing them more. My stupid knees feel like they used to look (black, blue and the size of large grapefruit)

I took advantage of this afternoon, to make some changes to my little apartment. When I was in the studio, I bought a loft bed, which is basically a bunk bed, with the area underneath clear so that you can put a desk, couch or whatever underneath.

Having to climb a ladder in to one’s bed presents several challenges, especially when one has just run a marathon or mangled every inch of their body in a high speed car accident. I had to sleep on my crappy futon for 3 weeks after the accident because I couldn’t climb the ladder in to my bed.

I couldn’t afford a new bed and really don’t have storage for the loft bed. It came to me at midnight last night. I disassembled the bed, reassembled (had to reverse the metal screen that holds the mattress) the top “cage” portion of the bed and turned it upside down. My single futons that form chairs and the legs and braces store underneath it, my 2nd futon sits on the platform that the top portion of the bed forms and my adjustable air mattress sits on top of the futon. The room is still narrow and tiny, but I’ve managed to make what looks like a regular bed fit. Now I don’t have to climb a ladder, it’s easy to get to the back of the freakishly narrow room to hang up my clothes (the “room” is only 56” wide, I think it used to be a service porch) and now I don’t have to climb up or down a ladder or deal with side rails. I can have tea in bed at night, Mocha in bed in the morning, and it will be better for “entertaining” [evil wicked grin]. The room looks bigger (if that’s possible) and lighter; and damn, it’s comfortable too 

I’m going to take an extra Tylenol with Codeine tonight and take my Celebrex a bit early. It may have hurt to do it, but a good nights sleep and not having to navigate a ladder in the morning when I’m stiff and sore will be more healing in the long run.

Last week, I finally planted the tiny, indoor herb garden I had planned for my bathroom. I had a cheapie $10 white shelf from K-Mart and 4 pots. I found herbs on sale at Fred Meyer last week for 89 cents. Michelle’s mom gave me a mugwort plant from her garden, and I bought lavender, mint and catnip. The bathroom window gets plenty of sun, and since it’s a room I use all the time, I’ll remember to water. When winter arrives and the days are short, I have two floodlight style grow lights that I’ll mount on either side of the window sill and a timer to put them on. So far the herbs are growing well. The BAD kitty, who likes to sit on the window sill has found them. Guess which one she’s eating? The lavender… go figure. She is one weird little animal.

When I walked down to the waterfront yesterday I stopped at Johnny’s Ocean Fish for some live steamer clams (I feel so sorry for folks who like seafood and don’t live in the Pacific Northwest). They scooped up more than a pound, so I had enough for dinner last night and tonight. They are so much fun to steam, they pop like popcorn.

Well, it’s time for me to rest. I did WAY too much to day, but am really excited about the changes I’ve made to this place.

~L

Well, it’s been quite a day…

I’m trying not to push too hard (am following doctor’s orders to the letter) but sitting at a desk (even part time) and then getting on a boat is exhausting… It feels good to be getting back to a “normal life” and I think I can avoid a nasty set back this time by going at it a bit slower.

I was going to try to lead yoga tonight, but the full day I put in (including piloting a boat that steers like a Mac truck) and hauling gas cans around have left me really sore. I’ve got a pinched nerve in my back that made my left arm go numb. For a while, the back of my left had felt like I had slammed it in to something… weird…

Anyway, I’m staying home tonight and am taking my Tylenol with Codeine, which I can’t take and drive. (Yes, I know that lots of people love hydrocodone but that crap makes me agitated, keeps me from sleeping and does nothing for pain)

I’d make a lousy drug addict. I just counted the pills left in my bottle, 50 out of 90. That means I’ve taken less than ¼ of the prescribed dose

On the other hand, I have more mobility; and understanding the fact that I do have some (albeit minor) fractures, helps me keep in the correct state of mind through my recovery. I know that I need to move and that it’s going to hurt. More important, I know that “stillness is death” (as my doctor would say) and it is time to start pushing the physical activity (just not the sitting/standing) I think I’ll hit the gym and start trying to run again tomorrow.

I’m absolutely amazed at the outpouring of love and support I’ve received over my decision to end Gaia’s Grove. The responses (close to 100 by this time) range from, “It makes me sad, but you need to give yourself a break” to outrage at the “jealous fundamentalist looser assholes that need to get a ____ing life”

If that many people feel that I offered something worthwhile and made a difference in their lives, then the last 6 years wasn’t a waste. It is however, still time for me to move on and focus that time and energy on other aspects of my life. I’m getting more and more comfortable with that decision and am looking forward to the things that I can do now that I have the time. I miss out on a lot by being booked on Friday nights.

Well, I need to go lay down for a while. It’s back to the gym and the road with me tomorrow.

~L

Well, I went back to the doctor today and have been released to go back to work PART time, which means no sitting at a desk for more than 4 hours (and no more than 30 minutes at a time) until after the 21st. My sacrum is still very twisted and inflamed (which is to be expected, it takes more than one osteopathic adjustment to fix something like that) I also need to avoid driving long distances (more than a 5 miles) for a few more weeks.

Given the amount of pain and tenderness I'm feeling (even after most of the visible bruising and scarring have gone away), she's pretty certain that I have some fractures in my kneecaps and ribs that weren't diagnosed because I refused to go the ER and get a huge bill to have my C-spine cleared and be given anti-inflammatory drugs that all my old marathon running friends in California already had. It will be a month tomorrow and bones start to knit after 4 weeks, so it's no big deal and wouldn’t have changed my treatment other than the fact that she wouldn’t have let me go to work and sit at a desk at all.

I’ll burn about half of the 3 weeks of vacation I have (sick leave’s already gone) but that’s life. I’ll still have plenty available to go to San Francisco in October and I can’t keep more than 3 weeks on the books anyway.

My doc also gave me 15 days worth of the anti-inflammatory medication that I can’t afford (at $190 a bottle) and that the insurance won’t pay for, so I can actually do my physical therapy, get this scar tissue and adhesions broken up and avoid getting osteoarthritis. She told me that no matter how bad it hurts, that I need to MOVE. I already knew that, but the pain that trying to go to work and sit at a desk full time caused me, set me back and I couldn’t do more than lay on the couch for several days.

I’m a bit sore from my treatment today and working (teaching a class) tonight, so I’m going to have a glass of wine and go sit on the couch and relax for a while…

I never should have tried to go back to work so soon, at least not full time. I was doing right to walk and run like I was doing, but the sitting really set me back on my recovery. I haven’t run since my ONE run last Saturday. [sigh]

I’ll be fine in another few weeks, but I’m going INSANE !!!

I did teach a class tonight and will kayak on Saturday (work/class related) I’ll just be a helpless girlie and ask the “big strong men” to carry my boat for me. They like that ;)

I still don’t know why I walked away from that mangled wreck and Michelle died of a brain aneurysm… Life (and death) doesn’t make any sense.


In the mean time, here are a bunch of silly memes gaked from various people…


The Completely Pointless Personality Quiz



The only book which doesn't take place in Narnia at all, per se, you're the story of a voyage to find the end of the world and hopefully the Seven Lost Lords (remember Rhoop!). You contain some of the most unique people and places and beautiful descriptions of the whole series.


Find out which Chronicles of Narnia book you are.

In 1962 (the year you were born)

John F. Kennedy is president of the US John Glenn becomes the first American in orbit when he circles the earth three times in the Mercury capsule Friendship 7 Cuban Missile Crisis occurs when Soviet offensive missile build-up is discovered Cuban Missile Crisis is averted when President Kennedy and Soviet premiere Krushchev agree to remove missiles Maryiln Monroe is found dead in her Los Angeles home The drug thalidomide is recalled when it becomes linked with severe birth defects in thousands of children worldwide Pantyhose becomes available for sale in U.S. department stores Jim Carrey, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi and Tom Cruise are born New York Yankees win the World Series Green Bay Packers win the NFL championship Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley cup Lawrence of Arabia wins the Oscar for best picture The Beatles release their first recording: the single "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You" Johnny Carson debuts as host of The Tonight Show

Your love is... by ChibiMarronchan
Your name is...
Your kiss is...	delicious
Your hugs are...	to die for
Your eyes...	light up a day
Your touch is...	awakening my heart
Your smell is...	exotic
Your smile is...	amazing
Your love is...	one of a kind
Created with the ORIGINAL MemeGen!