Day 350

After a Saturday night of Rage Room smashing and hour long axe throwing, Sunday deserved a more relaxing theme. Wine, cheese and crackers in an outdoor, heated igloo seemed to do the trick. 

Day 349

Today we went to a "Rage Room" where you get to smash and beat up things with baseball bats and crowbars. We had thirty minutes in total, and were exhausted and full of sweat after just five minutes of beating the electronics to death. We carried on, however and made sure that every thing we could smash was thoroughly dismantled. If you need to get some exercise or blow off some steam, I highly recommend it! 

 

Day 348

When looking at the current Chicago-land forecast, I remind myself to not get too excited about the trending warm up. While I will surely do my best to take advantage of it, I remind myself that it's known to snow in April and the "good" weather truly doesn't start until June. I mean, after all there are more than four seasons to Chicago weather. I believe we're currently in Fool's Spring. Happy weekend my friends!

Day 347

Throwback Thursday.

Beaches of Bonaire, 2019

Day 346

Today I went outside in just a sweater. Yesterday I left the house in a long-sleeve t-shirt. It's a heatwave here in the Chicagoland area, it's in the 40s and even hit a low 50 degree temperature, sun included. Admittedly, it can and probably will still snow in April, but for today I'm enjoying the warm up!

Day 345

Between weekend indoor skydiving and physical therapy yesterday my body, which is no longer used to working out daily, is beat. I feel like...

Day 344

I woke up before 5am for an early 6:30am physical therapy session today.

They kicked my butt.

I came home, did two loads of laundry.

Unloaded the dishwasher.

Tidied up the house.

Worked.

Took a real lunch break and got a pedicure.

Worked some more.

Attended conference calls.

Cooked dinner.

Cleaned up dinner (with some familial help).

Passed out on the couch.

Tomorrow's plan looks about the same, minus the laundry.

Happy Monday!

Day 343

We went indoor skydiving today (yes, bad SI joint and all - but it held up). As this is my second experience doing so, it was nice to relive the experience with and through the eyes of my two, teenage stepdaughters. They loved it and can't wait to go back for more, and of course they loved having something "awesome" to post on their social media pages. As I listened to them read comments others made about their flying experiences, they were all but disgusted at the fact that someone commented, "Nice.". 

Umm, I say the word "nice" all the time?! My emotions behind the word are enthusiastic and relay, if only in my head, that I think whatever I'm commenting on is amazing, awesome or very cool! When I defended the "nice" commenter, I was informed that I am old and that if I was a teen and used that expression "no one would talk to you". Wow, wake up call! As I continued to get schooled in all things and expressions that are currently acceptable in the teenage world of today, I found none of my current vocabulary cuts the mustard. I am not "lit". I would give you more examples of acceptable words or phrases here so you could be as cool as these kids but the words they shared were so ridiculous sounding I have apparently blocked them out of my mind! It's official. I've become my parents. 

Day 342

A quiet morning.

Coffee. Favorite breakfast.

Errands and a manicure.
Not a bad start to the weekend.

Day 341

There's an end in sight! Today at physical therapy I was told that I have one more week of my current PT schedule before I can drop appointments down to just once per week. I still have SI joint issues when I sit "weird" so I don't know if I'll ever be 100% back to normal, but strengthening my muscles has helped to keep those issues limited and I've learned how/what stretches work best for my pain. Fingers crossed I can get back to the gym soon...in moderation with modifications of course. 

Day 340

 

Day 339

Seriously, just WHAT do I do in my sleep? I need to set up a video or go for a sleep study because today I woke up feeling like I had been "pulled through a knot-hole backwards"! Anyone else hear that expression growing up? No? Just me and my olden-days references?

Today I woke up with a backache, shoulder ache, neck ache and headache, none of which I laid down in bed with. Man, whoever has a voodoo doll of me, give that thing a break please!

Day 339

What do you do when it's "Taco Tuesday" and someone in your household doesn't want tacos? I mean, first of all I don't understand how you can NOT want tacos, so that right there shows me I live in an abnormal environment of weirdos. But I digress. The night sadly ended with leftovers instead of tacos, and at least one person was happy that the tradition was skipped. Thankfully, there's nothing "wrong" with pasta-night Wednesday!

Day 338

I was up at 5am something to head to physical therapy today before heading back to the office. While I don't like the earlier wake up schedule, or the fact there was more snow to deal with, it was nice to see a few co-workers within the building. I will admit, we probably spent more time talking about all the things we haven't been able to discuss in person than working, but perhaps tomorrow will be more productive? 

Day 337

 What's Valentine's Day baking without a T-rex cookie? 

Day 336

We came up for air, if only for a few minutes (ok, hours) today. The significant other and I went out to dinner with friends tonight but were on a tight deadline to return home, you know, "at a decent hour". Due to unforeseen circumstances that weren't a part of the equation when we made the plans to go out tonight, our night felt forced to me. I couldn't really relax and surely didn't get to talk as much as I would have liked because the task was to eat and get home. 

I don't know what's worse - being rushed through your plans or not having any plans at all? Thoughts? 

Day 335

 

Day 334

When your significant other knows you've absolutely had it with COVID-19 repercussions, gross grey weather and are on general stress overload...

Day 333

In hopes of finding an inspirational photo to post here for, "Wordless Wednesday" I Googled, "best picture in the world" and below is the photo that stood out the most to me from the results. The first random thought that the image brings to mind for me are the song lyrics, "...who says an ant can't move a rubber tree plant?..." (yes, I'm dating myself on that one) but also, on a more serious note, I look at all the beauty in this photo. Although I don't consider an ant a "beautiful" creature, this little guy seems to be a mixture of acrobatic balancing act and functional water gatherer surrounded by beautiful, reflective colors of the globe. I'm reminded of nature's simplicity with this image and am glad for this moment, if only a moment, to focus on something other than my world. 

Day 332

Is it sad or considered over achieving when you find yourself so bored due to COVID restrictions, you sign on to work from home after hours because there's nothing else better to do? 

Day 331

I started my fourth week of physical therapy today and told them I was bored with their exercises. I was, of course, diplomatic when speaking but so yearning for a challenge. Challenge me they did. I got to walk on a treadmill, which may seem like something ridiculous to be happy about but I was ecstatic. I worked on different steps (side, backwards, forward) with inclines and then moved onto floor work with planks and birddogs. It felt great to be physically challenged and I happily went on about my day. 

Sadly, around bedtime I started to feel an ache in my SI joint area. I have no idea if, 15 hours later, the pain was due to the change in exercises at physical therapy or from something I unintentionally did during the day and didn't realize (like sit wrong, bend wrong, etc). Needless to say, the return of the ache is a hard blow for me to take. I walked in and out of my appointment this morning feeling great, feeling invincible and believing that a return to "normal" was right around the corner. And now, I'm currently led to believe that my body can't even handle something as basic as walking on a treadmill? Ugh. 

The one "good" thing is, that the pain is not really pain-like. It's a tightness and ache of awareness versus anything debilitating like I've previously experienced. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd say the issue doesn't even register, or is barely a 1. Nonetheless, it's a concern for me and makes me worry about my future. I've never had to go through physical rehab before so I don't know if this is as big as a set back as I feel it is or if experiences like this are "normal"?  I will inquire and find out more on my next visit, this coming Friday. Until then, it's continuing with my exercise homework, ice, heat and continued frustration. 

Day 330

 Although I quote this quite often, it still remains hard some days.

Day 329

 

Day 328

 Somedays...

Day 327

 Snow it begins...again.

Day 326

"See how many dead plants you've been watering." is a recent quote I heard. The context behind it was to stop reaching out to people via text, calls, emails or however you communicate and see if they reach out to you when (or if) they feel your absence. If they don't reach out to you or miss you, then you know you've been pouring your energy, your water, onto a dead relationship. While I do find this profound, I don't know that it's 100% accurate. 

Yes, communication and relationships are a give and take. Sometimes however, it's more give than take, there's never a perfect balance I suppose. I have some friends who I know love me dearly, but suck at reaching out. It's just not their thing. I accept that and we know where we stand with each other. There are other, less established relationships however that this quote hits hard with. I know some people only want to hear bad news and encourage the quote "Misery loves company". Those are the plants, the relationships, that need to feel the water shortage immediately. There are also those relationships who enjoy being watered, but never bloom. You know, the people who don't mind hearing from you but the conversation is all about them and then ends without any inquiry about you, your life or well being? Just stop watering!

Besides relationships though, the more I think about it, this quote can and should be applied to habits. Bad habits. Stop watering, stop encouraging, stop repeating bad habits. Let them die. Of course, easier said than done but here's your (my) reminder to do so. Like the statement below says, water what is alive and keep moving forward! Happy Wednesday my friends. Get to weeding out your garden! 

Day 325

It's a new month and I'm trying to be positive but... Yesterday I drove 45 minutes, each way, on crummy roads to go to my 7am physical therapy appointment only to arrive and learn my therapist didn't make it in. Due to the snow. Can I just say, it wasn't snowing yesterday? I tried to take it in stride and got a chiropractic adjustment instead (PT and my chiropractor are in the same building) so the trip wasn't a complete loss. Although I didn't feel the need for an adjustment, I convinced myself that it was for my own good since I took on more shoveling the day before and the adjustment was for preventative measures, right? 

I drove home and now had to figure out how to cram all the physical therapy exercises I was supposed to accomplish before work, into my work day. Thankfully I had a long, non-video conference call that I was able to workout through and complete most of my exercises and stretches. This is now week 7 of no work outs. It's mentally and emotionally taking its toll on me. I continue to ask the therapists if I can do anything - ride a bike? Jog? And keep hearing "No, we need you to get stronger first". I listen but with total disdain and depression. I even dreamt last night that I was running. That's how much I miss moving. Of any kind. Yikes.

As the day continued I received an email that, effective the 15th, we'd be back to our 50% rotation in the office building. This means I'll work one week in our office followed by one week at home and continue to rotate on that schedule until either a complete return to work or another COVID uptick. The news of returning to the office is a catch 22. I'm bored out of my gourd sitting at home however, I have no desire to commute or to be on someone else's mandated schedule. And by "mandated" schedule I mean, the pre-work preparation. Having to be in the office by 8:30am means I must have a regimented morning routine to exercise (do my PT), shower, get ready, have breakfast and be out the door by 7:45. Today, I can wake up at 8:28 if I want to and still make it to my computer, downstairs on time. First world problems, right? I don't disagree. 

In forcing myself to look at the "positives"... I am on week 3 of physical rehab. I'm doing all the work I am supposed to and hopefully, I only have between 1-3 more weeks of this until I can be released to do a little more of my own workouts. As for work, although it will be limited, perhaps the interactions with other co-workers will be beneficial and uplifting. The commute will give me more time driving my new Jeep around - which I do enjoy. Except for the gas mileage, which I knew would be a drastic change from my previous, very economical Honda Civic! As each day passes, the sun shines a little longer and sooner than later Spring will be here (despite what the groundhog said today) and all this will be behind me. I'll hopefully only have these ramblings here as a reminder that this ever happened. Thanks for listening to/reading my COVID induced rant today. 

 

Day 324