Post surgery

Well, my knee surgery finally happened. Two weeks ago, I had the corrections made that were necessary so that I can walk around again. Kinda nice to be able to be vertical now, and know that I can start (SLOWLY) running again in June.

No more clicking, swelling, pain, redness, etc. I am looking forward to it. I did get told NO MORE MARATHONS, but I dunno... We'll see. I'll have to discuss at a later time with my doctors. That might just be for a while, not permanently. Here's hoping...

Go back to work on Monday; Im glad to return to the real world. Being stuck horizontal on the couch for the last two weeks SUCKED. Too much daytime tv. Ugh, I felt myself getting dumber by the minute.

Next Adventure

The next adventure has been scheduled, booked, and paid for.

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Hawaii.


Yeah, I am going with my sister. Should be a good time. I am really stoked to take a gander at Queen Lolokelaini's palace, learn about the history, snorkle, check out the nightlife, check out the delicious local cuisine, maybe look for a job...  I can dream, right? There will be lots of gorgeous photos to be taken, and Im totally excited to get myself into a parasailing harness. Me and heights? Love!

Key West

I'm back from Key West. I had an amazing time. It was insanely fun, beautiful, warm, sunny, hilarious, and exhausting. Perfect end to 2009.

It started when I picked up GC from her parents house in Conneticutt at 5 on Christmas Day. We hopped onto 95 South, and drove. Drove, drove, drove, DROVE until 2 am when I started to hallucinate that I was gonna drive into a bridge in Richmond VA that didnt actually exist. We grabbed a place in an Econolodge and crashed for about 6 hours before we roared awake and and into a Dunkins. We drove the rest of the way, eating leftovers and snacks we'd packed back home.

We stopped in St. Augustine to visit with GC's ex-boyfriend and his mother, with whom she is very friendly. We stayed for about an hour, and they fed the hell out of us. Delicious green beans! We left about 8 pm, and drove the rest of the way to the Keys from there. It was an unreal drive. Took 11 hours from St Augustine to get to Key West.

Driving to Key West, we had to pass through a nature preserve that housed Key Deer. Key Deer are endangered. If you hit one, its an automatic $10,000 fine. Holy crap! So, I was GLUED AWAKE at 3 am. We actually saw 5 of them. It was really cool--- and it helped me to stay aware of my place on the road. GC did a GREAT job of talking to keep me awake.

We got to her place at 4 am, and I took 4 benadryls and crashed until 2 pm. We ate lunch at a place called Thai Island, where while we were paying the tab, I spotted a 7 foot long tarpin. I thought it was a shark. It was huge!! Just hanging out, hoping for someone to throw it some food. We hit up Virgillio's for Martini Mondays, where I met several of her friends, all of whom were extremely friendly. The Macchiato martini was delicious and very strong...

We went out every night, except Tuesday when we went to the movie theatre to see Up In The Air with two of her friends. They were very very cool. There was a total toolbag there, in a suit and Converse sneakers, and a bowtie, who made a rude comment to GC's friend. The friend responded, "Get food poisoning and die." It was funny at the time.

Wednesday we went snorkeling, which was AWESOME. We also went to Cowboy Bill's for Naked Bullriding competetion. That was pretty hilarious. A whole lot of nekkid people on a bull. Drunk, obviously. And hilarious.

Thursday was New Years Eve. We wandered around Duval Street. There was a whole lot of very awesome drag queens wandering around; one of whom was suspended in a giant shoe from the roof of a bar with a bubble machine. Beads were getting tossed left and right. It was unreal. I got elbowed in the head. I lost GC and her group of friends. Boo... I ended up walking back to GC's apartment and crashing.

Friday I started my drive back around 12, after I had my oil changed and I cleaned up GC's place. She was a no-show and I was pretty worried as we'd been separated on NYE. Turned out that she lost the battery in her phone. I drove from Key West to Savannah; it took 13 hours. I slept at an Econolodge again, took a shower, etc. Then, I got in my car at 7 am, and drove all the way home, stopping only for gas and ONCE to pee --literally, once-- all 19.5 hours from Savannah to my mother's house. It would have only taken 16 hours, but Massachusetts didn't plow any of its roads that storm. So I drove 10 mph the WHOLE WAY NORTH through MA. That was most seriously annoying. I got home at 2am, and went to sleep immediately. Woke up at 8 because my dogs needed to go out.

It was an amazing trip; I really don't have the right words to describe it. Everything was gorgeous. Every day I went for a run, a walk, and a bike ride. I saw Mallory Square, Duval Street, and all over the place. Theres a TON of wildlife to look at-- they even had a nature preserve on the island, for stuff like birds and lizards and stuff not related to the key deer.

I had so much fun. It was GORGEOUS. I want to go back....

Holy Snow

We got about ten inches this morning. Im increasingly grateful that in the next three days I will be on my way to a week in Key West. Holy crap. Couldnt have been timed better.

Am picking up GC in Conneticut, and from there we're cruisin' down the eastern seaboard until we hit our destination. Gonna be a good time, Im sure. Theres no one better suited to a road trip than GC, and Im more than stoked to be spending some time with one of my adventure buddies. Cant ever have enough adventure buddies.

The dogs are being naughty because theyre housebound with the snow being so deep. Theyre chasing each other around, and barking like crazy. Luckily, the cat's downstairs and is being pretty quiet.
Im mostly ready for christmas, which is nice. I really wish that we didnt have to work this week, but Im grateful that we all get next week off. Thats pretty generous. MO is headed to Vegas with her family, AL is staying put, SL is headed to New York to see her family, and CL is coming back to Massachusetts. I know that MK and EG's flights from Philly have been cancelled. I also know that TM and AS's flight to California have been delayed and delayed and delayed. I hope that everyone makes it to wherever they need to go.

Boston v. Philly

D'oh

So, I definitely screwed up today. Annoyed with myself for starting on an assay that has thus taken me ALL DAY two hours later than I ought to have. So Ill be here two hours later than I ought to have been.
Good grief. At least it isnt the day before thanksgiving. That would have been worse. By a lot.
Otherwise, status quo.

Happy October

OCTOOOBER!
That special blue in the sky? My favorite. I cant wait to go camping next weekend and stare up into the sky and drink in that blue. Have to tank up, because that blue is only around for the month of October.
Been sick all week--- worsened on Thursday and Friday. Kinda eased up on Saturday, only to smash back and hit me with another fever. Ugh... Stupid immune system was sleepin at the switch apparently.
My camera has been fixed. I need to send out my passport for renewal and then ill be all set for important stuff to do this quarter.
Dogs are good. Friends are good. :) All in all, life is nice (if fevery).