New Year’s Fail

Holy cow.

There’s a lot of updating to do. I didn’t think there was much to say in my first weeks back in Fresno beyond boring basic life skills to share. But I’ve since learned that people really do want to hear what’s going on, even basic life skills.

I have to say, that’s very heart-warming for me because I’m starting to feel really far away. There’s a nagging gremlin in the back of my head that says, ‘Everyone’s going to forget about you.’

But then there’s a text, a voice mail, a FB post, that knocks once and says, ‘Hey what’s up with you?’

Then in knocks again with a, ‘Hey what the F&$k?? No really, what’s up with you??’

Now, I have so many things to share I’m overwhelmed. But as they say: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

So here we go:

I ruined any NYE celebration with good stuff.

On Tuesday last week I went to the Physiatrist (that’s a rehab specialist Doc) whom pretty much whacked all my meds but two. Even one of those he wanted me to test not taking. As most of you know, I’m taking the hard core opiate pain killer stuff and I have no love nor plans to get addicted to them. I was really happy about that.

Then on Wednesday, my Physical Therapist took me swimming. I’ve been dying to get some cardio in lately and I was anxious to get in the water. So we went to Fresno’s (well, Clovis actually) finest gym, strapped some floaties to my legs and swam some laps. I didn’t get a Strava logged, sorry GGTC peeps. But I know I swam about 800 meters in total.

It felt awesome.

So by the time NYE Thursday came around, I was toast. Compound everything about being sore and multiply it by 20. What’s most lame is that I get leg pain. I don’t feel it when you touch my leg yet, but I get crazy pain in my hamstrings, ankles, & feet. I was in pain up until this afternoon. That’s when I started back on the pain killer I was trying not to take.

So technically that was my New Year’s Dip in honor of my Golden Gate Triathlon Club Brethen’s Annual New Year’s Dip in the Bay.

A lot of you saw this picture:

There’s actually a ton to celebrate in this picture:

• I did an overnight with family for Christmas away from my parents house, which is a big deal because I have a lot of accessories. ?
• I got in and out of that couch doing a ‘depression transfer’ which is using my arms to hop my butt from seat to seat. Before I’d use a flat board to slide across. It’s a huge leap in strength and skill.
• I’m not actually holding my leg up. It sat there crossed on it’s own. Yet another huge deal for flexibilty.
• I’m rocking the slippas. I almost left home without putting on proper shoes. Could you imagine me with the wrong shoes?? In public?

Thank you thank you thank you for the texts, cards, voicemails, visits, everything. I really miss you guys.

More to come & more frequently!

Happy New Year!