health issues

this recent post by one of my fav bloggers, so NOT cool, got me thinking about the shit hand some people are dealt healthwise.

up until eight years ago, i was one of those people who exercise, eat right, don't drink or smoke. then i got diagnosed with breast cancer when i was, literally, in the best shape of my life.

first there were surgeries. one breast gone. then six months of hell (chemo). then a month and a half of radiation. then elective surgery to remove other breast and ovaries.

then came osteopenia, followed by osteoporosis. and migraines. and back pain. and three herniated discs in my back. and broken bones. and injury upon injury upon injury.

i am currently still recovering from being knocked down at the dog park last year, which resulted in a knee the size of a small watermelon, whiplash and a concussion. my back went out earlier this month, and i am slowly gaining mobility again.

i've given up on running anymore, and biking doesn't look too promising either. i used to swim a mile every day, but this summer, between injuries and the bad air quality where i live, i haven't been able to swim nearly enough.

injuries + menopause has resulted in a weight gain, which i'm very unhappy about. in the past, i'd always been a bit underweight, so this is new, unpleasant territory for me.

while the thought of ever going back to work in an office makes me want to jump of the nearest tall building, the more my body speaks its mind, the more i think i won't be able to even if i ever wanted to again.

i can't sit for more than an hour straight without having to get up, move around and loosen my back. i need to roll my back five times a day, at least, followed by stretching and ice for 20 mins.
the arm i broke a few years ago still aches, and i need to take typing breaks to let it rest. and i get migraines if i stare at the computer screen for too long.

in short, i'm a mess. a mess that will most likely never be able to work a traditional full time job again. for now, i'm still able to freelance and earn a small, teeny, tiny income. but if it weren't for my husband, i would most likely be homeless and definitely be without health insurance.

it's official!

mike accepted a job offer with a bigger (i.e. more secure, stable, BETTER) company! woo hoo!

better bennies, better pay, better commute, too.

yay for him (and me). :)

stay tuned

big announcement coming tomorrow!

the rollercoaster that is july

this month has been insane around here.

i went from famine to feast as far as work goes, and while i know i should be happy about that, it makes for stress, and me no like stress.

we're taking two mini vacations soon...one to bodega bay, where we (mike, me, his brothers and their others) have rented a house to celebrate my m-i-l's 80th b-day. then, about a week later, mike, greta and i are headed to mendocino to celebrate mike's 38th b-day.

i've been working like crazy on a huge project due at the end of this month, as well as all of my regular stuff, and trying to get ahead so i don't have to take any work with me on either vaca.

to add to the craziness, mike has been doing some exciting things that i will soon be able to reveal...exciting, but definitely added stress over the past two months.

whack

my back is whack. yesterday whilst washing dishes (i know, never, ever wash dishes, i tell ya!), it felt like my back broke. it's out, and although my chiropractor is taking wonderful care of me, i think i may have to put swimming on the shelf for a while. it was already gathering dust due to my shoulder problems and the air quality, and now this.

i already gave up running and biking, but i'm holding out for swimming. please....

the view from inside

the smoke-filled air is grey and gloomy
if i pretend not to notice the green trees, plants and grass
if i pretend i'm not wearing a tank top, shorts and flip flops
if i ignore the constant whir of the air conditioner
i can almost pretend it's fall or winter

i never thought i'd miss winter, but this summer has been crap, so miss it i do!

Hopkins

what do you get when you take the best of grey's anatomy and er?

you get this show, which is almost as addictive as crack is (this in NOT based on first-hand knowledge, however!).

i had three eps of hopkins on my dvr, and i finally got caught up last night.

as i was watching, mike wandered in and sat down, and soon he was just as addicted as i was.

this show will make you happy and sad, and have you cheering for the docs and their patients.

you might even shed a tear (mike did!).

reunion dress

i finally found a dress to wear to mike's 20-year high school reunion in august. and when i say finally, i mean i had to actually leave the house (the heat! the smoke!) and venture over to arden fair mall (ugh!) to visit nordstrom, my favorite store.

i almost had a panic attack when i beelined straight for the dress section and instead found myself surrounded by blouses. i walked all around, went upstairs, back down, and finally asked. turns out the dress section was moved (and downsized QUITE a bit).

last summer when i went shopping in search of a dress to wear to an outdoor, sweltering wedding, i went to nordy's and tried on about 50 (no kidding) dresses and found many that were viable options.

this time, not so much. maybe 20 to try on, and, of course, the last one is the one i walked out with. i figure it will go a long way (with strappy sandals at the reunion, with black tights and boots this winter, with tights and sandals come spring).

now if only i could get my hair to do that...