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.

How Did You Spend Your New Year's in the Decade of 2000?

2000 - Ushered in Y2K at a party at my parent's house and then went with friends to downtown Dallas where we watched the lighting of something we once thought was important but now I can't remember.

2001 - Probably some miserable singles party for church. Beck? Was this that horrible year? I try to put it out of my memory because it was THAT BAD! Church + Singles = Nightmare NYE.

2002 - Was this the year Dallas iced over and Becky, Erin, Andrew, Chris and I went sledding behind our parents' golf cart? That was one of the best New Year's Eve parties EVER! I still want to see the video of Becky flying off the sled.

2003 - Second worst New Year's Eve nights ever. It started off great with Becky, Greg, and Becky's semi-boyfriend, Barrett (whom we dubbed "Barry"). We ate dinner and Greg went to meet some other friends. Then we hung out with Barrett and Becky began to realize that he was old because he didn't know about the Goo-Goo Dolls. We were back in bed around 11:30 pm and asleep. Ugh, that was painful.

2004 - I had just moved to Chicago this year. Patrick and I had friends over to my parent's house to watch movies outdoors on a big screen. Fire place was roaring along with the heaters and it was so much fun.

2005 - Probably one of my best memories. Becky, Russ, Wendy, Kristen, Patrick and I headed over to a house where Hattie was house-sitting. We cooked a huge dinner and sat outside talking, eating and laughing until the wee hours of the morning. Then we had one huge slumber party and a massive breakfast in the morning.

2006 - We tried to create the magic this year but it just couldn't live up to the hype.

2007 - I flew back to Chicago, ate dinner with the roommates and we went and saw Blood Diamond. We are so exciting.

2008 - I was in Dallas and Becky was pregnant. She, Russ, and I went to a delicious Italian restaurant in Lakewood and then sat with all the old people to watch a movie at Mockingbird Station. Was it Charlie Wilson's War? I loved it!

2009 - An exciting night of dinner and Scrabble. Janell, Kate, Alyson and I kept it low-key (aka. lame). I do remember dominating the Scrabble game. I knew then that 2009 would be a good year.

2010 - Party at our place! Should be a fun night.

So long 2009! What will the next 10 years hold?

Look into the Future

I just read this horoscope from some Yahoo website about what 2010 will look like for me.

Year 2010 Overview

Okay, pause for a moment and check your pulse. Still there? Good. That means you survived the last couple of years with both Saturn and Pluto in less-than-perfect places for you. And by "less than perfect," I mean "lousy." Good news! Both of astrology's heavyweights have moved on to more constructive places for you. Now is the time to take that famous Pisces sensitivity (still intact from the challenges of the last while) and put it to work making your life a happier and more comfortable place.

You'll be receiving a lot more attention from others in 2010: loved ones, family and co-workers will all be drawn to you at times like moths to a flame. And as a result of the last couple of years worth of hassle, you'll be a stronger person with better judgment, and much better able to handle the influx. Enjoy your new position at the center of your own social circle!

One more noteworthy change from the previous year: Jupiter will be in your sign for most of the year, giving you a newfound sense of optimism and happiness about things no matter how they turn out. You'll be feeling expansive, but be careful not to expand too much -- this transit also comes with a more than usual chance of weight gain. There will be a renewed emphasis on health, fitness and personal well-being in the spring -- take advantage of that. Then again, maybe you just deserve the break. What's a pound or to compared to real happiness?

So I was all into this horoscope thinking, "yeah, yeah, I like where it's going. It will be so right on! Goodbye Pluto and Saturn - whatever that means! I will be the center of attention. Hooray! Not only that but I will rule with wisdom (picturing myself dressed in a black robe and a white wig resembling old school Parliament)." And then I read about the potential weight gain and now choose to believe that it's a load of crap!

Gluttony

Dear Lord, forgive me for the gluttony that took place this past week (she says as she shoves another handful of Swedish Fish in her mouth). My diet consisted of chocolate-covered nuts and Milk Duds. Ugh, I feel sick just thinking about it. I felt sick about it yesterday but it didn't stop me from eating even more today. Everyday I say "Tomorrow!" Well, I think I need to mean it. I have no plans tomorrow night so I think I'll go to the store and prepare for a week of detox, headaches from lack of sugar, and my digestive system straightening itself out. Wow, this sounds a lot like rehab.

VPL

My mother would be horrified.

I'm rockin' navy velour sweatpants with a different color navy blue top, brown Uggs, and some serious Visible Panty Lines.

It's a laundry night. Laundry rule: You wear your most unfavorite panties so you have as many clean pairs of favorites available as possible.

Video of Laken

Here's a video Patrick made of Laken's first day in this world. Precious.

Laken Orender

Laken Orender was born today! He came in at a stunning 6lbs. 11oz. Alicia and Laken are doing great. Liam got to hold Laken and kept saying, "He's growing!" Patrick said that Laken looks just like Liam when he was born. He's destined to be adorable.

Thanking God for another healthy baby! Congrats to Patrick, Alicia, and Liam! Happy to be an aunt again.

Family Networking

Facebook gave me two crushing blows recently:

1. Found out my little brother is "in a relationship." Um, thanks Andrew. Glad I could hear it from you. That makes me the one single kid in our family - again. Work with me Drew!

2. My Dad has more friends on Facebook than I do!

iPhone Gloves

Purchase alert! I visited the Nordstrom sale today. I'm still giddy just thinking about it. How I've missed shopping. I digress.

One of my frustrations with the iPhone the past two winters is that I have to remove my gloves and risk frost bite in order to answer my phone or text someone. Today a discovery was made! They are now making special gloves you can wear that work with the iPhone! There is special fabric around the pointer finger and thumb that allows the heat from your fingers to reach the phone.

They're part of a special trunk sale this weekend. I pre-ordered mine after making sure they worked (they do) and get to pick them up on Monday. They come in many wonderful flavors.