Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Knee and the 5k
On Monday the 20th, I had my first appointment for my knee. The fantastic Jewett Orthopaedic facility in Lake Mary is where I went. Talk about a well-oiled machine! They're the team physicians for the Orlando Magic, UCF, etc.
X-rays showed my bones were fine. Great, in fact. According to the doctor, my bones around my knee were well-aligned and not chipped. I was given a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and instructions to wait for a call from their MRI department.
The MRI was set for Friday the 24th at 7:45 a.m. Sadly, it was on the same day as the day I was to head to Disney's Wide World of Sports to pick up my race pack. Saturday the 25th was to have been race day.
On Friday, I headed towards the clinic & had my MRI done, using a very small machine where only my left leg needed to go in. Yay! I am scheduled to go in next Wednesday 02/29 to discuss the MRI findings with the doctor.
I got in my car and headed south to Disney's Wide World of Sports to get my race pack and attend the Expo. I wished that I had someone with me; a sister, a friend. No one would or could run with me. The ones that would have are living in California, Washington State or Minnesota. :(
I'm walking up to the main area and my throat starts to constrict. I am holding back tears of disappointment and every so often and little squeak escapes; a wail trying to make its way out of my throat.
I walk up to the section that lists my race number. Some sections have a huge line. Mine only had two people in line. I kept swallowing back the tears. I will NOT make a fool of myself in front of these Disney volunteers. I give them my information and they hand me my bib and my pin. There was a deadline to have your name on the bib. I was one day late and yet, there it was - my name on my bib.
The man directed me to the next area, where I would turn in more forms and pick up my T-shirt and clear "bag check" bag for race day. I thank him, turn around and the waterworks begin. I walk with my head down, so people can't see me crying. I cry until I get into the next section, wipe my tears and enter.
If you recall, we've been here before, for my nieces' gymnastics competition. Today, the entire place was full of vendors and super-excited people. The 5k on Saturday was just the piddly run. These women were here to run the Half-Marathon on Sunday. Some were doing both.
I walk to the back to pick up my T-shirt and bag. Then I walked around for a bit, trying to calm my nerves enough so that I could speak with race personnel without blubbering like an idiot. With my nerves steeled, I asked them about walking the race and explained my knee problem. The 3 unoccupied people behind the booth were very cheery and told me that I should try it anyway walking. If I could not do it, then someone would pick me up in a golf cart and take me to the end. If it hurts too much, just stop.
I don't know if I will be able to maintain a 16-minute mile pace. I'm vacillating between "sure why the heck not" and "why bother?" I'll let you know I guess soon.
So, let me show you my loot.
I need to sleep on it. I am not sure what I will do.
X-rays showed my bones were fine. Great, in fact. According to the doctor, my bones around my knee were well-aligned and not chipped. I was given a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and instructions to wait for a call from their MRI department.
The MRI was set for Friday the 24th at 7:45 a.m. Sadly, it was on the same day as the day I was to head to Disney's Wide World of Sports to pick up my race pack. Saturday the 25th was to have been race day.
On Friday, I headed towards the clinic & had my MRI done, using a very small machine where only my left leg needed to go in. Yay! I am scheduled to go in next Wednesday 02/29 to discuss the MRI findings with the doctor.
I got in my car and headed south to Disney's Wide World of Sports to get my race pack and attend the Expo. I wished that I had someone with me; a sister, a friend. No one would or could run with me. The ones that would have are living in California, Washington State or Minnesota. :(
I'm walking up to the main area and my throat starts to constrict. I am holding back tears of disappointment and every so often and little squeak escapes; a wail trying to make its way out of my throat.
I walk up to the section that lists my race number. Some sections have a huge line. Mine only had two people in line. I kept swallowing back the tears. I will NOT make a fool of myself in front of these Disney volunteers. I give them my information and they hand me my bib and my pin. There was a deadline to have your name on the bib. I was one day late and yet, there it was - my name on my bib.
The man directed me to the next area, where I would turn in more forms and pick up my T-shirt and clear "bag check" bag for race day. I thank him, turn around and the waterworks begin. I walk with my head down, so people can't see me crying. I cry until I get into the next section, wipe my tears and enter.
If you recall, we've been here before, for my nieces' gymnastics competition. Today, the entire place was full of vendors and super-excited people. The 5k on Saturday was just the piddly run. These women were here to run the Half-Marathon on Sunday. Some were doing both.
I walk to the back to pick up my T-shirt and bag. Then I walked around for a bit, trying to calm my nerves enough so that I could speak with race personnel without blubbering like an idiot. With my nerves steeled, I asked them about walking the race and explained my knee problem. The 3 unoccupied people behind the booth were very cheery and told me that I should try it anyway walking. If I could not do it, then someone would pick me up in a golf cart and take me to the end. If it hurts too much, just stop.
I don't know if I will be able to maintain a 16-minute mile pace. I'm vacillating between "sure why the heck not" and "why bother?" I'll let you know I guess soon.
So, let me show you my loot.
 |
| My T-Shirt |
 |
| My numbered, personalized bib |
 |
| My Pin (had to pay extra for it). |
 |
| The program with lots of good information, mostly geared towards the Half Marathon people. |
 |
| If I manage to complete the race in the allotted time (doubtful), here's the medal we receive. |
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Buffy Season 9: No 3, Free Fall Pt. 3
Spoilers after Steve Morris' gorgeous cover.
So I make all this fuss about the mysterious young guy's necklace and bracelet, and in this book, they're missing! Same day, same time, no more necklace/bracelet combo. LOL - go figure. I mean, they show his hands and neck close-up, and someone forgot to draw in his necklace and bracelet.
Buffy's in awe of this guy, Severin, whose powers can basically suck the demons out of the bodies they've inhabited. She and he go back to his gorgeous digs because the cops are after Buffy for "killing" vampires. Since the world knows about them now, they have rights, a-la "True Blood." Severin tells the tale of how his girlfriend decided she wanted to get made into a vampire, cause they're so cooool, except when she's "made," she's super-feral and attacks him. He defends himself and suddenly, some power from his hands removes the evil from her body and she's on the floor, dead. The vamps are feral now because Buffy destroyed the seed where magic comes from in Season 8, so now any new vamps made, are not..coherent or something. Magic made them coherent and cognizant.
Meanwhile, Spike's hunting the green-ball-force field guy from parts 1 and 2, finding him/it in Alcatraz. Oddly enough, this dude is not trying to kill her, he wants to thank her for destroying the seed of magic that released him from some jail, by protecting her from the siphon. An evil being that siphons energy. Hey, don't we know someone who....
Rut Roh. Severin leads Buffy into a trap and we're left hanging until the next episode.
I loved the "call to Scoobies" and seeing that Andrew's listening to Lady Gaga while repairing a robot arm. *snort* WHAT is he going to do with that? Willow's being avoidy, and Xander and Dawn are kind-of annoying because they're fighting over Xander forgetting Dawn's birthday, but her birthday has not happened yet. She's annoying. Can she get eaten?
Now we have to wait and see what happens in the final part of "Free Fall", which is already out..and then some. I am really behind on my posts.
So I make all this fuss about the mysterious young guy's necklace and bracelet, and in this book, they're missing! Same day, same time, no more necklace/bracelet combo. LOL - go figure. I mean, they show his hands and neck close-up, and someone forgot to draw in his necklace and bracelet.
Buffy's in awe of this guy, Severin, whose powers can basically suck the demons out of the bodies they've inhabited. She and he go back to his gorgeous digs because the cops are after Buffy for "killing" vampires. Since the world knows about them now, they have rights, a-la "True Blood." Severin tells the tale of how his girlfriend decided she wanted to get made into a vampire, cause they're so cooool, except when she's "made," she's super-feral and attacks him. He defends himself and suddenly, some power from his hands removes the evil from her body and she's on the floor, dead. The vamps are feral now because Buffy destroyed the seed where magic comes from in Season 8, so now any new vamps made, are not..coherent or something. Magic made them coherent and cognizant.
Meanwhile, Spike's hunting the green-ball-force field guy from parts 1 and 2, finding him/it in Alcatraz. Oddly enough, this dude is not trying to kill her, he wants to thank her for destroying the seed of magic that released him from some jail, by protecting her from the siphon. An evil being that siphons energy. Hey, don't we know someone who....
Rut Roh. Severin leads Buffy into a trap and we're left hanging until the next episode.
I loved the "call to Scoobies" and seeing that Andrew's listening to Lady Gaga while repairing a robot arm. *snort* WHAT is he going to do with that? Willow's being avoidy, and Xander and Dawn are kind-of annoying because they're fighting over Xander forgetting Dawn's birthday, but her birthday has not happened yet. She's annoying. Can she get eaten?
Now we have to wait and see what happens in the final part of "Free Fall", which is already out..and then some. I am really behind on my posts.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
La Familia
The Saturday before my Panama trip, we went to see my dad and step-mom's new house. I am so behind on my posts. The passing of a loved one tends to put things into perspective.
Dad and Nellie got themselves a great new place.
And I say Nerds with love, being one myself!
Dad and Nellie got themselves a great new place.
Check out that open door there. That would be FOUR sliding glass doors that nest into each other, leading out to a screened in patio. On cool days, like this day, they leave the doors open and let nature cool the house.
The stairs off to the right of the above picture lead to a loft room with a half bath. It's the only room on the second floor.
My sister Lissette came over with her hubby John and my two nieces.
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| Isabel and her cousin Lyric |
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| The tech nerds. Jacob, Dad and John with my sis Lissette. |
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| Little Miss Giana aka Gigi. |
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| Step-mama Nellie with her granddaughters Isabel and Lyric. |
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| Nerds in the house! |
And I say Nerds with love, being one myself!
We had a nice lunch (Shepherd's Pie - YUM!) listened to old music I grew up with in Puerto Rico and NY and then headed home because I had to fly out to Panama the next morning.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Another 5k Update
This one is NOT good.
While in Panama the week of February 5-11, I worked out in the hotel's gym. Both of the treadmills were down, so for 3 days I used their elliptical machine for 45 minutes each day. Then on Thursday evening, one of the two treadmills had been fixed, so I was raring to go.
That morning, checking my emails, I saw my final registration instructions in my email. I was SO EXCITED, especially after learning that this year's Princess/Theme was Rapunzel from "Tangled." This meant my medal for completing the course would be "Tangled"-themed. Yahoo!
So, I am on the treadmill and jogging at a good pace. I am psyched! I am jogging longer than I do at home. I am thrilled, I am....DOINK. I am hobbling. I am slowing down. My left knee has decided to poop out on me. I slow down and get off, only having done 20 minutes. I go to the front desk and ask for ice (there are no ice machines anywhere) and they say they'll send up some ice. Twenty minutes later and I am calling from my room asking where the ice is.
When it finally arrives, I pour it into an empty garbage can liner and place it on my elevated knee.
This. Cannot. Happen.
SO CLOSE! SO CLOSE!
Friday I hobbled at work in Panama, keeping my leg iced as much as possible while working. Saturday, we had to go into the office. My Panamanian co-worker brought me his knee brace from when he had surgery and told me to take it on the plane with me. Later that evening at the airport, I could NOT keep up with my Orlando co-worker who had come down with me, getting constant pings of pain. I ended up getting wheelchair assistance from Copa airlines AND they gave me an entire row of seats to myself. All three seats so I could stretch my leg out. Upon arriving in Orlando, I got wheelchair assistance from the plane, all the way through customs, baggage claim and passenger pick-up.
It's Monday the 13th when I type this. I am using a cane my sister Brenda had left in the car she gave Jacob. Thank goodness it was there. I have felt fine and then the next second felt awful. I made an appointment with an Orthopedics specialist who cannot see me until Monday the 20th. Then that next Saturday the 25th, is the race.
Too soon. So close. I almost made it.
UGH!!
While in Panama the week of February 5-11, I worked out in the hotel's gym. Both of the treadmills were down, so for 3 days I used their elliptical machine for 45 minutes each day. Then on Thursday evening, one of the two treadmills had been fixed, so I was raring to go.
That morning, checking my emails, I saw my final registration instructions in my email. I was SO EXCITED, especially after learning that this year's Princess/Theme was Rapunzel from "Tangled." This meant my medal for completing the course would be "Tangled"-themed. Yahoo!
So, I am on the treadmill and jogging at a good pace. I am psyched! I am jogging longer than I do at home. I am thrilled, I am....DOINK. I am hobbling. I am slowing down. My left knee has decided to poop out on me. I slow down and get off, only having done 20 minutes. I go to the front desk and ask for ice (there are no ice machines anywhere) and they say they'll send up some ice. Twenty minutes later and I am calling from my room asking where the ice is.
When it finally arrives, I pour it into an empty garbage can liner and place it on my elevated knee.
This. Cannot. Happen.
SO CLOSE! SO CLOSE!
Friday I hobbled at work in Panama, keeping my leg iced as much as possible while working. Saturday, we had to go into the office. My Panamanian co-worker brought me his knee brace from when he had surgery and told me to take it on the plane with me. Later that evening at the airport, I could NOT keep up with my Orlando co-worker who had come down with me, getting constant pings of pain. I ended up getting wheelchair assistance from Copa airlines AND they gave me an entire row of seats to myself. All three seats so I could stretch my leg out. Upon arriving in Orlando, I got wheelchair assistance from the plane, all the way through customs, baggage claim and passenger pick-up.
It's Monday the 13th when I type this. I am using a cane my sister Brenda had left in the car she gave Jacob. Thank goodness it was there. I have felt fine and then the next second felt awful. I made an appointment with an Orthopedics specialist who cannot see me until Monday the 20th. Then that next Saturday the 25th, is the race.
Too soon. So close. I almost made it.
UGH!!
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