Do I Dare?

And this is what I auditioned for today. The audition consisted of one minute solo dancing and one minute group dancing with two other people. One of the most hilarious and fun auditions ever. Do I want it because it pays well? Yes. Am I scared I might actually get it because of these commercials? Yes.

Phallic Symbol

Is this what I think it is? My doctor swears it was a drawing to mark the tibula and two tendons. I think they were having some fun. This is what greeted me two days after surgery when I took off the bandages. Not even nail polish remover could make it go away.

A Tale of Two Crutches

I am stubborn and vain and three city blocks is an effin' long way. But my eyebrows look good.

Cora Kathryn & Griffin Andrew McCroskey

Cora and Griffin were born just before 1:00 a.m. this morning. Both babies and Erin are doing well. They are both over 6 lbs. 9 oz. This picture makes my womb ache! I'm an aunt of five nephews and finally a NIECE! We're all overwhelmed with joy.

Summer-Weight Spanx

GENIUS! I just bought them in pink.

It's Official...I'm an Athlete...

...Because only athletes get these injuries, right? After seeing my doctor (who I LOVE) today, I found out there are some significant things happening. Some of you may not know that I've been struggling with a knee injury for the past few months and just had an MRI on my knee and back. That's fun when you're claustrophobic. Please read that as sarcasm. This injury makes it hard to walk even four blocks. Two and a half months of physical therapy didn't really do the trick.

So in a nutshell:

1. I have a torn meniscus in my left knee that's 7mm long. She says it's pretty big and that they need to try and repair it if possible. If they can't, they'll cut it???

2. I have no cartilage on the outside of my knee. She says I'm pretty young to have this but it's probably because of my past injury. Three cheers for 9th grade basketball! They are going to first try to do some surgery they use on professional athletes where they drill holes in the bone and allow stem cells to grow (Microfracture?). This is usually 85% successful. If it doesn't work, we'll go about another route with a different surgery.

3. Both these surgeries can be done at the same time and I'll need to be on crutches for a month (dear Lord help me!). The good news - I'm getting it done and I'll be back to myself in a few months. Woohooo!

4. I have a bulging disc in my back pressing on the nerve root which shoots pain down my leg and to my knee. So I'm seeing a back doctor on Monday and they may give me an injection. No surgery and it isn't too bad. It's probably from compensating for my knee (Which I knew. I could be a doctor). We'll see what her colleague says. She wants to get this taken care of first before surgery.

I'm a mess. But at least there are answers. I told her I was afraid I'd go in there and she'd tell me there's nothing wrong. It was the opposite - I have multiple things wrong which explains SO MUCH! Like why I can't walk without wanting to rip my left leg off. I'll admit that I cried after I left and called Mom. I'm not sure why. Maybe a bit of relief knowing what it is and that there's hope for healing. Maybe a bit of sadness that the summer will be about rehab. In the end I will get better and will eventually be able to run along the lake again.

Something's Different

It's been a while. I'm getting tired of having to say that on this blog. With Facebook I've gotten to the point that I can't write anything longer than 120 characters without blowing up. I also can't read anything that holds my attention if it's longer than 120 characters. What is this world coming to?!

Now that I've unofficially apologized for the abandonment, I have a gift for you. Actually it was more of a gift for me. I had a few photos taken for an agency that specializes in "normal looking people" for print ads featuring "normal looking people." They have a photographer take several photos and then they post them to their website for agencies to browse and see if they want to use you. And by "use" I don't mean anything inappropriate. Or maybe it is inappropriate and I'm naive. Well, maybe so...wait, how much are they paying?

I just had my photos posted. They aren't anything special. I'm looking tanner than normal since they were taken right after Hawaii. When did my face get so chubby? Oh yeah, it's called Christmas and no running. It's my winter weight. You have to have some to survive up here in the arctic tundra. One thing Christmas and no running does for me that's positive can be seen here in this photo. Click on my face and go to the second picture. Can you see what's different? That's right - CLEAVAGE! Where did that come from? Holy cow! I wonder if they airbrushed it.

I got away with wearing spandex at work today - all day. Some dreams do come true.

In the Trash

I cleaned out my underwear drawer. I seriously had to throw out underwear I've had for a decade. A DECADE! Granted most of them were ones I didn't like so they kept hidden at the bottom of the pile and only came out on laundry days.

I have to say it feels good.

Bum Leg

You know what's the most comfortable shoe ever? Uggs? No, Uggs with orthodics.

I've become an orthodic wearing woman. Long gone are the days of sassy heels (except for that awesome pair I just secured this past weekend) and the ease of flip flops. Under orders from my physical therapist I am imprisoned in shoes that can house orthodics. Hello Easy Spirit.

I'm a 33 year-old orthodic wearing woman who decides on lunch-time restaurants by debating if she can walk to them without any pain or not. How can I be so young and have such issues with my left leg? Addiction to running, so you would think. It's most likely because I walk funny. What originally started out as knee pain is now knee pain, hip-flexer pain, and a new flare up in my calf. I should just go purchase a Rascal so I can live life or at least walk down to the bus stop.

It's really done a number on me. You know I love training for marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, etc. I love pushing myself while working out with my trainer. It's been humbling not being able to do anything. I prided myself on being in shape and being the first person in my apartment up and out the door running along the lake. I went through a mourning stage, then denial, then mourning again, and now I'm at acceptance.

I'm praying that we can figure things out while my insurance is still covering my physical therapy visits. No one can figure me out. I always liked being unique, but not like this.

At least it's winter and I can hide my orthodics in most of the shoes I wear. What if it were summer? I'd be the one wearing shorts, mid-calf high socks, and some awesome khaki colored sneakers. Game of shuffle-board anyone?

Future Fireman...

or Chippendale dancer?

Gotta love Archer. I wonder what's so exciting on TV that he stopped in his barenaked tracks.

My nephew, Liam, could be in a Gap ad.