Day 13253, and 1 ski day down

First of all, posting is a pain.  There are not ANY open wi-fi connections that I can reach at the condo.  So, here Katie and I sit, at Starbuck's, while I type.  I even had to pay T Mobile for the connection.  Didn't I hear that Starbuck's was switching to AT & T???

Anyhoo, we arrived Tuesday at 7:30 am.  Jay and I went and got the car, then back to the airport to wait for Katie, who arrived at 10.  The Denver Airport is boring.  I took pictures with MY camera while there.  I can't post them though.  Why?  Because I forgot the damned cable to connect my camera to my laptop.  Why?  Because I am an idiot.Fortunately, Jay remembered his (which is amazing!) so I do have some pictures.

Here is our drive into Silverthorne.  No real snow threats on the road.  Easy 1:15 from Denver.

(Right now, blogger has decided that this is the ONLY picture that it wants to post.  Well, I must say, of all the pictures I have, I am SO glad that this is the one that I got up...)

Anyway,  yesterday, we skied Breckenridge.  Jay had his full day lesson, and actually used most of it.  Then...he turned in his skis.  He liked it more than last time, but still doesn't consider himself a skier.  Oh well, I tried.

Katie and I skied hard, drank hard, and had a blast.  We got Erin (the instructor) to ourselves for the last couple hours of the day, and she took us up to Peak 10 and we skied black runs.  I fell once, Katie didn't fall.  I will say, though, my fall was graceful and controlled.  And, if you blinked, you might have missed it.

We are off to Vail today.  Jay, sadly, is back at the condo, as it is medicine day.  The pills kick his ass.

More tomorrow...

Day 13249, & I am all better?

So, apparently, all I needed to do for the last 10 days was stretch and exercise.

Really???

Cause it sure as hell felt like my legs were going to fall off if I tried to use them!

Anyhoo, despite my frustrations noted in the last post, I am quite pleased that I decided to go to the doctor, that he diagnosed me as a worry wart, and that I took him up on his advice.

I was a bit sore this morning, but only for a second. And off to the gym I went...

6 miles on the elliptical over the course of a nice leisurely hour. Yesterday was 5 miles, so I am definately getting my stamina back. When I did my cardio on Thursday (for the first time in 11 days,) I thought I was going to die. Coincidentally, I also scored "below average" on my cardio test with PT on said Thursday. I do not fail well, with the exception of AP Calculus in high school; I failed that REALLY well! Rather than beat myself up over the failure, I am chaulking it up to my "vacation" from any real exercise over the last week. And, maybe also to this head cold that I plan on leaving in Nashville when I fly off to Colorado next week. It is quite amazing how fast my body can revert back to its old sloth-like self.

Now, I must come up with a new, much less aggressive plan to incorporate running into my routine. First, though, is it pronation or supination? Or, have I been supinating since my imaginary injury because of the great knee revolt of 2008? Don't really know... Maybe I will just make the crazy running man at the crazy running store watch me run across the parking lot a few more times to decide...

He is probably more aware of what caused my issues than the doctor was anyway...

I am thinking that I will slowly start substituting the treadmill for the elliptical, a mile at a time, week by week. Most importantly, I will dedicate 15 minutes on the front and back end of each workout to thorough stretching. 30 seconds in each stretch, blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, hopefully I have put an end to this particular issue, as I am sure that there will be many new issues ahead.

Day 13245, & a diagnosis, finally...

So, I went to the doctor today.

First, my appointment was at 1:30.  They said to arrive 20 minutes early.  I arrived 30 minutes early, and I had already filled out my new patient form online.  Needless to say, I was there PLENTY early.

1:05: I arrive and check in at the front desk.  I get more forms to fill out.

1:25: I get called from the waiting room, up to a desk.  She copies my insurance card, takes my completed forms, and sends me back to the waiting area.

2:05: I get called into the back.  Very exciting!!!  Only, then I am dropped off at yet another waiting room.  Granted, it was a nicer room, with CNN on the tv (vs. some soap opera,) and fewer people.  Maybe they just realized that I am better than most people and moved me to the fancy room?  There was an autographed Predators jersey in the new room.  Maybe I got to hang where the Titans and Predators wait.  Actually, I bet they never wait.

2:15: X rays, 6 of them... Then, back to the fancy room.

2:30: Finally, off to the exam room, where I see my X rays, a nurse, and the really cool "shorts" that I get to wear for the exam.  She leaves to I can get ready to model the shorts...

2:45:  Nothing...

2:55: The doctor comes in, asks me a few questions.  I answer: "Running, blah, blah, blah.  Work on my feet, blah, blah, blah.  Skiing next week, blah, blah, blah."  He moves my legs, bends my knees, looks at my ankles, feet, etc.

3:00:  The diagnosis!  Yea!  Finally!  Get ready for this...

.

.

.

.

.

"Your X rays look good.  I think that you have just stirred things up down there...."

What?

Really?

2 hours for this diagnosis?

I walked out with no diagnosis, no prescriptions, no new knee brace, nothing!  Now, don't get me wrong, I am overjoyed that I basically just have shin splints in my whole lower leg.  I love that only need ibuprofen.  I am excited that he said all I need to do is stretch and start working them out again, though he did mention the word "slowly..."  I am just a bit upset that it took soooo long to get to what I have been clinging to all along.  I knew  there was a reason to avoid the doctor's office!

So, now that I have my clean bill of leg and foot health, I am off to the gym tomorrow for a bit of leg work.  But...

No running until after the trip!

Day 13244, & love week is over...

So, Valentine's Day is one of the most ridiculous holidays. From my point of view, it goes something like this:

Me: Thank you for calling "Restaurant Blah Blah". This is Chris. How can I help you?

He: Yes, I wanted to make a reservation for tomorrow night at 7.
(Now, in this case, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Notice, he didn't say Valentine's Day, but rather, tomorrow night. It is like he thought that he was going to be able to slide right in; yeah, he'll fool me because I have not been dealing with these calls non-stop for a month...)

Me: Unfortunately, all we have available is 5 o'clock and 9:30, or later.

He: Really? It is just a party of two?

Me: Yes, we are quite heavily booked for the evening. There is just no way to fit any more reservations into the dining room.

He: (With desperation in his voice) OK, I might call you back.

Now, what kills me is that this ridiculous holiday has now become a defining moment in this poor guy's relationship. He forgot about Valentine's Day. That is too bad, since it is on the 14th of February EVERY YEAR! On the other hand, it's not like he forgot her birthday or, god forbid, their anniversary. Rather, he has only forgotten about a silly Hallmark holiday that will now leave his significant other pissed off and questioning whether or not he really cares. Now, he is going to have to go buy flowers, candy, and, most likely, something from Tiffany & Co. so that she does not question him about why they are sitting down to dinner at either the tail end of lunch time, or so late that they might as well order breakfast... This, because when he said "OK, I might call you back," what he meant was "I am going to hold onto the hope that another restaurant will give me the 7 o'clock reservation that I want." Yeah, good luck fella! He will spend so much time clinging to this hope that eventually, when he does call us back, we won't even have the space we did when he called the first time.

This is why I hate Valentine's Day. It is just a silly societal construct designed to make people spend...

Now, on that note, we did 257 people for dinner on VD. God bless Hallmark!!! That is a respectable number of people, regardless of the day. But keep in mind that it was 96.5% parties of 2. That is over 100 tables. Four turns. That is a lot of people.

Anyway, Friday and Saturday, filled with all the real losers that couldn't get a table at all, along with those that recognize the stupidity of going out on VD but still have to show their partner that they care, turned out strong numbers too!

If only these people dined out more than twice a year (New Year's Eve, in case you weren't clear on the other night they go out.) I could retire.

The point? Well, the point is that my leg's are still broken. Well, hopefully not broken, but maybe... I will find out tomorrow at 2, after my visit to the orthopedic office. Anyway, they are sore, and they didn't feel any better after being on them for 4 days straight. Yet another reason to hate Valentine's Day.

I have not been to the gym since last Thursday. That was upper body day, and I skipped my cardio warm up. I think that my legs could do the elliptical, but why tempt fate? I still can't do anything that resembles a walk when I get out of bed each morning. It takes about an hour to build up to a respectable shuffle. I have a week to recover from whatever is wrong. Actually, from today, I have 9 days, as my first ski day will be next Wednesday.

Hopefully, the Dr. will understand my dedication to my vacation plans and not try to spoil them with some crazy instructions like stay off your feet for a month, or don't do anything that might put stress on your knees. Yes, hopefully, he will give me steriods, a painful cortizone shot, or some hardcore anti-inflamatory and call it a day. And, hopefully, he will be able to offer some insight as to what I did wrong, other than failing to recognize my own limitations and pushing myself too hard. It has always worked out in the past, why would I have thought that this would be different?

So, we leave for CO next Tuesday at 6 am. My high school friend Katie will be meeting us in the Denver airport for the drive out to Silverthorne. Then, next Friday, our other friend Karen will shuttle herself from the airport. I am so excited. Skiing, drinking, eating, and sleeping (listed in order of importance, mind you!)

Downside, I will have to go to Starbuck's for internet access. Other than that, no downside. Just downhill...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Day 13239, Snow storm 2008

So, yesterday, it was 62 degrees when I started my errands.  By the time the late afternoon rolled around, it was in the low 40s.  I knew the temperature was going to drop a bit overnight.  But really, who knew it was going to be white out conditions by this morning?

Fortunately, Jay got up early so that the garage and doorways could be shoveled clear.  Ok, well, maybe that is not quite accurate.  Maybe we didn't have quite the blizzard that I describe.  But it snowed.  And, with the crazy up-and-down temperatures that we have been having lately, I was pretty excited.  Jay was definately excited, though not as much as he was last year in CO (the picture.)

The dogs?  Well, there are always mixed reviews on things like snow when it comes to Murphy and Lucy.

Murphy, getting a bit senile in his old age, seems to think that the snow cover helps him to stalk prey, or just to hide from us.  Black and white contrast is a concept that he just doesn't get...

He is awfully photogenic though, when we are able to shoot him against a nice, white, snowy backdrop.  When we try to photograph him in any other setting, he just looks like a dust mop.  Oh well, he never really showed an interest in being America's next top model anyway...

Lucy, on the other hand, true to form, stands on the patio, waiting to get back inside.  She is such a princess... Maybe if I got her some little dog booties, she wouldn't be so sensitive.  Or, perhaps, she would just maul me in my sleep.  Either way, she cracks me up.  Daddy's little angel pup...

Of course, this is the south.  The snow was gone by noon.  At least it was pretty for a few hours.  And, it got us really excited for the trip to Colorado in just 10 short days...

Day 13238, or the day of Catherine

Tuesdays are one of my favorite days.

First, I am generally "off" on Tuesdays.  After the weekend, along with the fairly SLOOOW Monday lunch, followed with paperwork, payroll, paying bills, and general catch up, it is nice to have a day to myself.

Jay leaves early on Tuesday mornings.  So, I get to sprawl.  The sprawl has been extra enjoyable as of late; the new bed is amazing.  Once I get up, about 6:30, it is time for a few cups of coffee, then off to the gym.  Training is at 8.  Generally Tuesdays are lower body day.  I seem to have pretty strong quads, so I find most of the session to be quite easy.

Every other Tuesday is also Sheri day.  We all love Sheri day.  When I say we, I mean Jay, me, and Murphy and Lucy, the pups.

Sheri is the best investment we make in our own sanity and well-being.   She does the laundry, the does the dishes, she does the sheets, the floors, dusts... She even cleans the oven, the drip pans on the stove top, my coffee pot, and the sink drains.

All the while, she visits with the dogs, plays with them outside, teases Murphy with the feather duster, and gives them all the attention they could ask for.  They love Sheri.

I love Sheri.

Jay loves Sheri.

Anybody would love Sheri.

Coming home at the end of Sheri day is like getting a new house.  It smells incredibly clean (zero dog smell!), looks new, and everything is in its place.  Sometimes things end up where we can't find them.  But, if that is what Sheri wants, then that's fine with me.

At the end of my Tuesdays, I have my date night.  Not date night with Jay, mind you, but with Catherine.  It is sort of like Mommy's night out.  She gets away from the kids and I get away from Jay... It is sort of the same...

Catherine is my sounding board, my rock, my sanity.  There is nobody I would rather hang out with.  There never has been, and never will be.  Everyone in the world could only hope to be so lucky as to have their own Catherine.

The preceding announcement has been a paid endorsement brought to you by The Friends of Catherine Foundation.  --- "I am Catherine, and I endorse this message."

Day 13237, & now my knee

So, maybe my feet have been hurting so badly, I failed to notice that my left knee was really sore.  But today, I noticed.  And it is swollen, on the inside, below the kneecap.  Did I twist it?  I dunno... I am sure that I have form issues.  Nobody was laughing at me though, so it couldn't be that bad.

Anyway, rumor has it that I should expect pain.  Older, wiser people told me it was inevitable.  I knew I was in for a rough ride with running.  I knew it was crazy.  I just didn't know I was old.  I AM old.  But Nat is older (6 months, might as well be 2 years...)

No more running until after the ski trip.  If my knee, or anything indirectly connected to it, still hurts by week's end, I am going to the doctor.  Nothing is keeping me from the slopes.

Apparently, nothing has happened over the last few days worth writing about.  Hence, the posts have been VERY short.  Apologies.

Amy Winehouse won five grammys yesterday.

Amy Winehouse is a trainwreck.  My knee, no so bad.