I'm Sorry! I'm Sorry!

I am a terrible blogger, I know!  I didn't realize it has been almost a month since I posted anything.  Good thing I don't get paid for blogging or I would be the best dressed homeless person! 

It's been a crazy month, that's for sure.  But the snow is FINALLY gone and it was 60+ degrees this past weekend.  I had forgotten what warm weather felt like!  Here's a short version of what's been going on...

One of my good friends from Memphis met me in Milwaukee a few weekends ago.  Such fun!  We hung out, toured a brewery, went to the Harley museum, had dinner at a Safe House (that's all I can tell you because we are sworn to secrecy) and generally had a fantastic weekend! 

Then the bombings happened.  I actually found out about it while I was driving home from Milwaukee.  I listened to the radio coverage for most of the drive home.  I have to say that of all the recent, horrible events that have occurred, this one impacted me the most.  I'm not sure if it's because I am a runner and can't even fathom experiencing that or because I love Boston so much.  Either way, it really did consume my life for a while.  Every news report. Every photo on line.  One of my co-workers told me a few days after the bombings, that I was no longer allowed to run races in the US.  While I appreciate her concern, I told her that the US is probably the safest place to run a race now.  I just can't even imagine what the victims are going through.  That could have been any one of my loved ones that so graciously come watch me race.  Makes me thankful for them and thankful that no one I know what injured.  The local trail runners group held a "Run for Boston" last week.  It was pretty special. 

If I had been thinking about it, I would have worn all of my Red Sox garb.  But, that's okay.  It was great to run this with Tania.  And I actually ran most of it.  My hip started to hurt after about a mile and a half but we only did 2 1/2 miles so I just toughed it out. 

Speaking of my hip, surgery is this Friday.  It's a different surgery than last year in that he is doing what's called an Iliopsoas Tendon lengthening.  He's also going to see if there is a labral tear (what I had last year).  My money has been on labral tear this whole time so we will see if I am right.  Here's some info on what is going to happen in case you are interested. 

http://arthroscopyofhip.wordpress.com/about/apatientsperspective/surgery/iliopsoastenotomy/

Because this surgery is different/involves more, I get some fun equipment after for post-op.  There's this wonderful machine that basically moves my leg for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc17IXQHm0A

And then there is the "iceman" machine that keeps my hip cold/decreases swelling.  And then there is this beauty...

https://www.google.com/search?q=california+hip+orthosis&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS481US482&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=2xB_UaKEBsa9ygG8zoHIDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1093&bih=490#imgrc=H86kHJGQ3EL3AM%3A%3BWkNcCVuI27CHcM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.doctorcloseout.com%252FThumbnail.aspx%253FImage%253Dca_hip.jpg%2526size%253D285%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.doctorcloseout.com%252FViewProduct%252FOrthomericaCaliforniaHipOrthosis%252F1541.aspx%3B99%3B285

Yep.  I feel old as crap!  They tell me I can wear it under clothes and you would never know.  I'm not sure I believe "them".  So I'm pretty sure I will not be leaving the house as long as I have to wear that. 

But my momma is coming in Thursday night and staying for 2 1/2 weeks.  I have the best momma in the world!  Of course, she's an old pro at this by now.  Let's just hope we don't have any falling accidents like last year after my surgery.  No long hallways this year but a set of stairs which should be interesting. 

So I will probably be blogging more while on recovering.  I mean, what else am I going to do?  Though my blogs might not be very interesting.  Of course, if I right them while on pain killers, they might be the funniest ones I've ever written!! 

One more thing before I go.  I FINALLY came up with a name for my Personal Trainer business and have set up a website.  Check it out!  www.beckleyfitness.com  I haven't really customized it yet with pictures and stuff but I'm working on that.  I had hoped to start seeing clients May 1st but since my surgery is the 3rd and I won't be able to show clients how to do exercises, it will probably be June 1st.  I am happy to do "long-distance" training too so if you are interested let me know.  I can design a program for you and we can video-chat once or twice a week. 

That's all for now, boys and girls!  Have a super week!

Relax. I'm Hilarious.

That's what is on my new shirt I got in Minneapolis this weekend. Perfect for me, don't ya think? Let me tell you, though. It was kind of stressful for the first few hours of my trip and it took a few cocktails to get me to the point that I could appreciate a shirt like that. We all know that I have a tendency to pull bonehead moves, right? Well I pulled a doozie of one Friday. Here's how it goes:

Friday 5:30am - Alarm goes off to go to Physical Therapy

6:45am - Leave apartment with all my stuff for Minneapolis and arrive at PT ready to go.

6:55am - PT and I discover a new popping in my hip as he is doing routine stretches. Hmmm...need to address this with Ortho doc at appointment.

8:00am - On the road to Minneapolis. Gased up, snacks (chocolate cake courtesy of PT), grapes and good tunes to get me going on the 5 1/2 hour drive.

10:30am - Text from Bill that he arrived in Mpls (I'm tired of spelling it out). I'm still about 2 1/2 hours out.

Noon - It suddenly hits me that I forgot the one thing I need the most. THE FREAKING GAME TICKETS.

12:02pm - Call Bill in tears telling him what I've done. A little freaking out (on my part) ensues. Bill calms me down and says we will figure it out when I get to Mpls. Thank heaven he stays calm in situations like this.

12:15 pm - Janet calls me after getting my text about the tickets and she also talks me down of the wall.

1:15pm - Arrive at hotel in less than happy mood and immediately call Stub Hub to find out options. Because the tickets were not the downloadable kind (that I normally get) and they were the actual hard tickets, Stub Hub is not sure they can re-issue. They contact seller and left a message and informed me they would know by 6pm.

1:30pm - Bill says "doesn't Tania have a key to your apartment?" Yes, she does but can she get off work in time to get to Fed Ex to overnight the tickets?

1:32pm - Light bulb goes on that property manager at apartment not only has key to my apartment but WORKS FOR FED EX!!! Place urgent call and leave message to please, please, please, please call me right away.

1:33pm - She calls back and I explain situation. She has not left for work yet so will go get tickets and send overnight with guaranteed Saturday delivery.

1:35pm - I try to relax and enjoy being in Mpls with Bill.

2:00pm - Head to Mall of America and have a few cocktails before shopping. EVERYONE should shop after a few cocktails.

3:30pm - Notice I missed a call from random area code and listen to voicemail. It was Stub Hub stating the seller re-issued the tickets electronically and they waived the re-issue fee. Stub Hub has now become my favorite on-line ticket broker.

3:32pm - Call property manager back asking if it's too late to pull the tickets back. She says we are good. Thank her profusely and promise to take her out on the town to thank her.

3:35pm - Call Janet to update her that the world has not come to an end and we will be going to the game without having to buy more tickets.

3:40pm - FUN WEEKEND BEGINS!!

So, the lesson learned here is that when you don't go through your normal checklist (read: put your tickets in your purse the night before) you forget said tickets. Now mind you, had I realized I forgot them in Rhinelander or Wausau, I would have turned around and just taken longer to get to Mpls. But because I was 4 hours from home, that was not going to happen.

So other than that, the weekend was great! Our hotel was right in the heart of downtown and was only 2 blocks from the Target Center (where the game was). Friday night we went to dinner at a place Bill described as pretentious but I thought it was very cool. I think that any restaurant that comes with "stuff" on his food he doesn't like/doesn't know what it is, is pretentious. I, however, had a wonderful piece of salmon and some candied winter squash. YUMMMMMM!!! Here's how Friday night  ended...



 

 

 

The game was on Saturday and I would just like to say a few things about going to see the Grizz play somewhere besides Memphis:

 

a) I am officially undefeated.  4-0 in games I've seen live.  It was tough to watch at times but they pulled out the win.

 

b) Can I please, for one simple game, not be sitting behind some prissy girl who is there with her boyfriend/husband and doesn't know a bloody thing about the game yet constantly wants to give me dirty looks when I cheer like I'm the one out of line for cheering AT A BASKETBALL GAME?  That's all I want.  Is that too much to ask???  Seriously.

 

c) There is no better place to watch an NBA game than the Fed Ex Forum in Memphis.  I have now been to three other NBA arenas and their fans suck.  I'm not just saying that because they are not the Memphis fans.  It's true.  In Memphis, there is always cheering/noise/music and fans get loud for any good play (or bad for that matter).  They don't wait for a dunk or the end of a quarter or the 4th quarter.  We cheer all the bloody time! 

 

So all in all, it was a great weekend!  I'm sad that I won't get to see my boys play again this year, but am very thankful I got to see them play as much as I did.