Merry Christmas to Me
Nothing like an impulse buy to give you that special rush. It all started when Emily tells me that she got the new Nano with video for Christmas, which got me thinking that I really wanted video too. I looked up the price and was blown away at how inexpensive they were. So today, one of my stops on my errand run was to PowerMacPac. I played around with all of the toys and finally went for many more gigglybites than my original plan, and got me the 80 GB Ipod Classic in black. It cost a bit more, but I can put all music, photos, and video, and all my computer software, and saved files, and... I still have tons of room.

To avoid any impulse regret, I justified the purchase. If I were not broken, I would be going to Canada to race next week, for the Burnaby 6 Day. With travel, food, accomodation, and registration, I'd spend close to that amount. And now, I can manage 1.5 hours (2 episodes of Ugly Betty) on the eliptical trainer and stationary bike :)

Jeff Dunham - Achmed the dead terrorist -

This one's for my brother in Iraq. Cheers to you, Charlie!

Cat Wake Up Call

This IS my cat

Managing

Well, I am doing much better. Thanks everyone for well wishes. As I write this, I'm in no pain at all, but the moments come and go. Most of the time, it's just a dull irritant,, but I have many sharp twinges, cramps, and spasms throughout the day, which force me to sit and sink into the back of the chair, couch, or... bed. And it sucks. I began physical therapy on Tuesday. She's an OK lady, but hasn't had much experience with this injury. She admitted that she was going to do some research in order to give me a recovery time line. Luckily, I have been nice to the folks at Therapeutic Associates, where we work out on Tuesday and Thursday, so I got hooked up with a super tape job last night to keep me standing straight and not "wing" so much. Those guys absolutely know what they're doing!

Now that I am on vacation for 2 weeks, I have no excuse for not working out. So after watching everybody else ride around in circles tomorrow morning, I'll head to the gym for some quality spin bike and eliptical trainer time. EXCELLENT!

Drumroll.....

Grade 3 AC Separation. Google it.

It's sounds pretty bad, but I should be riding again in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'll spend some trainer and spin bike time. And I can still do some lower body workouts. I just talked to Dr. Murray, and anyone that's ever asked him anything... knows the type of answer you get. He gives you more information than you know what to do with, which is awesome. You get your original question answered and some bonus tidbits. And it gives me such peace AND piece of mind.

Dr. Tilson turned out to be pretty straightforward and to the point. He found me an article to read about treating a grade III bustaroo. He told me to email him my decision and he'd get me going in the direction I needed before he gets back to the office. I think a little bird told the ancient man that I was not keen on our past experiences. So, he's on my good side again.

Surgery is one option, but the amount of function I'd get back isn't much better, if any, than just rehab. So, I'm going the rehab route and if I still want surgery after the 2008 season, I'll do it right after nationals. The surgery mostly fixes the deformity. On my right side I have a shoulder. There is a point, and my t-shirt seams hit nicely. On my left, I look like an old lady. It goes neck... a small lump... and my arm. I foresee my biggest problem being keeping my bra strap up!

Not joking.

And yes, I'm planning to wear one :)

I took a photo of my x-ray. Not sure if that's legal. Oh well. See where that big space is on the top right, at the end of the collar bone? Yea, there's not supposed to be a space. It's not so much that the collar bone is sticking up, but that my arm has sort of fallen. Nice lungs, huh?

Going to Doctor Tomorrow

I'm worried that Dr. Tilson is going to pull the ole, "Let's give it a week and see how you're doing."

ABSOLUTELY NOT. I need to wear my big girl pants and be assertive. I know what needs to happen, it's just a matter of what Dr. Tilson says. It's going to be my way- with him... or my way- without him. Hopefully my next post will mention something about getting an MRI soon!

In the meantime, I'm still workin' the arm sling. Oh yea...

Degrees of Separation...

Well, in case your friends have never shown you a separated shoulder, check out my scanty pictures below. I have to wait until a doctor sees this to know at what degree it's pulled away. Unfortunately, I'm not able to get in to see a doctor until Thursday. And I have to see the same doctor I dealt with when I broke my wrist. He's skilled and knows what he's doing, but it bothered me that he wasn't as interested in my urgency to get healed and back on the bike as I was. He's well along in the years (at least 70) and my guess is that he's not learned anything new in years....That's the Kaiser catch 22. They'll pay for just about everything as long as they control just about everything. But I got the appointment lady pulling for me and will let me know if anything opens up before my appointment.

In the meantime, I'm able to move it quite a bit. I'm going to see if one of the boys at Therapeutic Associates can take a peek at it tomorrow.

Shoulder Ouch

Typing with one hand. Crashed this morning. Walking pace and in the grass. Took a hit during a maneuvering drill. Flew over bars and landed 90% on my left shoulder (10% on my head.)

Went to ER. Had a wonderful time. Got some fuzzy pain medicine. Funny looking lump where collar bone should be attached to shoulder blade. Have to see Orthopedic Specialist in a couple days.

Could have been worse. Helmet is ok (ground was grass and squishy mud.) Pain a all in shoulder. Everything else is fine.

Sigh.....

To all the Grandparents...

2007 has not been a good year for Grandparents. Hopefully all of them meet up in heaven and party together...

Me- Grandma Maxine (February)
Amelia- Grandpa
Emily- Grandpa
Brooke- Grandpa
Haley- Grandma

It's been a *!$# year for pets too...

Jen's puppy
Digger kitty
Sadie Dog
Richard's Dog too!

And all this is just off the top of my head.

Whoever is in charge out there, please be merciful in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Great Gads!

I'm starting to run out of good answers for when friends ask me why I ride in nasty weather. Today was one of those days. When I left the house it was pouring. I traveled south bucking a head wind the entire time. The ride to North Star that usually takes me 25-30 minutes took 35 today, making me late for our group ride and putting me smack dab in a bad mood.

I have to just keep telling myself that my competition is also training today. I sure as heck hope so at least. All saddle and torture time is money in the bank!

The sweet reward for surviving such a day is being able to peel off the sopping duds, tossing them into the washing machine, and sprinting upstairs to a hot shower.