Sunday, May 16, 2010

Legends of the Fall

Wow - i just looked at my last posting date.  I am remiss...It has been over a week ago!  I do have a wonderful excuse, however.  I'm using it for everything.  I had a medication change....which is not the actual excuse but the cause of the excuse.  The medication change made me dislike coffee....weird, huh?  I have not had any coffee since....oddly enough...the last time that I wrote.  I have been asleep since then.  I have also gained five pounds.  I don't think this one is going to last for me.  Any further weight gain, and I'm off it...I don't care what the doctor says.  I'll try acupuncture instead. 

The last two weeks have flown by.  Work was busy with students starting school, meeting with community members and overall daily work.  Oh...any my fall.  Which was not that big of a deal until you consider that I'm an overweight 46 year old woman.  I was walking in the hallway and somehow, my heel just slipped right out from under me.  Whap!  One the floor...on my butt!  Six anxious looking students running over...most likely thinking...will we need a crane to get her up again?  One brave soul reached out and said "let me help you up.." while she braced her back.  I replied..."no thanks...I think I'll stay down for a little longer."  She looked confused - how could I want to stay on the floor?  Well, during a fall, everything gets a little out of place and it takes a few moments for them to find their way back again.  I felt like my left hip was somehow sitting behind my right buttock.  After a few minutes, I got back up....on my own.  Always best...if you get up on your own, most likely your OK (Nursing 101).  I was...until the next day.

My left leg was sore for about two days after that fall.  No bruising....no abrasion....just old lady sore.  Still four days later, I can still feel it.  I see heels somehow exiting my future and instead wearing beige athletic shoes with Velcro.  Shudder. 

I also had an offer from my friend to be my personal trainer.  I think I'll take her up on it.  She's a tough woman.  I may end up crying but at least I'll be thinner...and less prone to falls.  Hopefully the exercise will keep me awake also.   The staff are getting concerned at seeing my head on my desk at 2:30pm.  I keep trying to tell them that's it a new yoga pose but they aren't buying it. 

More to write later but it's time to get ready for the day.  Hope you all enjoy yours!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Gunpowder and Lead

Hmmmm....My husband just took off with the dog.  If you have read my earlier posts, you know one of my stress reducers is singing country songs at the top of my lungs...I'm not sure if it was the actual singing or the fact that I was singing "Gunpowder and Lead".  Hopefully you are familiar with Miranda Lambert (she is absolutely adorable albeit a little hostile!)  I'm also a fan of Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Sarah Evans and believe it or not....Reba McEntire.  All have songs in my very limited range which I can sing...very...very...loudly.  Eric is probably having to walk very far and very long to get away from me.  That's OK...he's stuck in the car with me tomorrow morning!

We just finished up some very juicy steaks and somewhat burnt and undercooked biscuits.  Apparently, they don't turn out so well in the Toaster Oven.  It's something like an Easy Bake from my childhood.  I was reminded with Mothers Day coming, however, that my mother never burned biscuits...except when she asked me to keep an eye on them.  She was a fabulous cook.  Thinking of her is bringing back so many memories of my childhood.  This is also where the singing comes from.  My older sister, mother and I all spent time singing with church.   My sister and I sang at her memorial service 12 years ago.  It's been a long time since I've seen her...but memories of her live on when I look at my own children.

I've received calls from two of my sons today....both asking about my plans on Sunday.  Both wanting to spend time with me.  I'm reminded that I don't just love my boys; I truly like them as human beings.  While they genetically were cursed with some of my quirks, they are pretty great to spend time with.  My youngest will most likely make me breakfast on Sunday - his specialty is eggs.  I will be well fed not only physically but emotionally Sunday.  We will relive many memories of the past twenty one years - and i will cry a little bit that an era in my life is ending.  And an era in theirs is just beginning. 

I have been well cared for by the men in my life.  I sing along with Miranda Lambert having never experienced a man hitting me in anger or the feeling that someone else is in control of my every move.  I have been truly blessed with my husband and boys.  I should be singing "Blessed" by Martina McBride....but her voice is a little higher and I think the angry songs have a better beat.  I can hit every note of Sugarland's "Stay" but there's something about a woman waiting for her married lover that kind of turns my stomach.  Bummer....its got a great melody.  My favorite song right now is "The House that Built Me".  My house that I grew up in is a mini-mall in Old Town now but the sentiment is pretty cool. 

OK - I've been rambling for a while now.  It could be the sentiment....it could be the fact that I don't want to do my homework...it could be the wine.  You decide.

Love to you all!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Pictures, Pedaling and My Phone

The Breast Cancer 3-day walk is in 28 weeks.  If I walk 20 miles a week while training, that's the equivalent of 560 miles...or the distance from here to the Grand Canyon.  I think it's actually closer as the crow flies but if you want to get there on a paved road, it's 557 miles from my house.  In 28 weeks, I could also lose 42 pounds at a healthy rate.  I think I'll set my sites at that goal....walking to the Grand Canyon in the summer does not sound the least amount appealing....except maybe to the buzzards that would be feasting on my carcass. 

I have failed miserably in my training this week.  Monday, I left for work early and came home late but did take time to jot a note on Facebook.  I made a comment about getting an under-the-desk pedal exerciser.  One of the nurses that I work with brought one in for me on Tuesday!   I have a full fledged mini-bike under my desk....and I have used it!  It's taken a little getting used to....I tried using it while I was typing but could only take the pounding on my thighs for so long.  They slapped into the desk with ever upward motion.  So I pulled it out a little further.  Now, I can't reach my keyboard but can use it while I'm having meetings or on the phone.  It's a little harder to carry on a conversation while out of breath and some callers have thought they mistakenly called the 1-800 sex line but overall it seems to be working.  My staff has chalked it up to one more quirky thing that comes along with having me as a supervisor.  They don't even blink anymore.  Tomorrow, I do need to get back on my walking schedule, though. 

We celebrated Instructor week yesterday at work.  My boss was taking pictures.  He took one of me eating a piece of cake.  He doesn't know it but I'm confiscating his camera.  It looks like I'm having a stroke while I'm eating.  I'm not kidding.  One eye is half closed and I think the left side of my face is sliding down.  I am not a photogenic person...ever....I have one good picture of me.  It was taken when i was two....fortunately, they got my good side.  Now my only good side is the back of my head.  This is not some self-bashing...trust me...those that have seen pictures of me will agree.  My hope during the 3-Day is that I can avoid camera's...or be at least on the right side of one.  I'd rather be the one taking the pictures.  I truly have no talent as a photographer...but people are less likely to point a camera at you if you are pointing one back at them.   It's a little like having a gun in your hands.

So...if I'm going to walk the distance of here to Arizona and loose over 40 pounds, time to get serious....again....really....this is the last time.....stop laughing.  No more cake (especially when camera's are around!).  Increase the walking.  Peddle my heart out...(pick up fund raising from phone calls....?).  I don't want to be walking 60 miles while hefting an extra 50 pounds along for the ride.  It would seem that the walk would just be easier if I was....well...you know...smaller.  Especially the up hill parts.  Give me some encouragement....please...I can use some words of..."you can do it!" and "You're on your way"...or even..."Hey stupid...when are you going to get tired of this unhealthy cycle that you're in!".  I'll take it all...and internalize it...so maybe the stupid comments may not be the best!  Wish me luck!

Love to you all!