User talk:TheEileen/Nov 2009
November 2009
24 Nov 2009
Updated list and wiki with just one project moving into PP. Did manage my board work. Did not do the instructions. The fatigue has passed but I'm still a little tired, which I think is me getting back into my rhythms.
I have two yoga series and no problems. I did my weights today. I think I have put back about an inch on my tummy, a dress didn't fit as well although a pair of very tight pants still fits okay (that is, not as tight as they used to be and not like "oh god get them off me" at the end of the day. They are a beautiful white with faint red and ecru stripes in a lightweight wool with lining. Perfect winter pants and I always get compliments on them. Anyway, I have been better at taking the pain meds. I can feel myself walking more on my big toe (which shockingly is a little achy also now ha!). I get to spend a lovely day on Thursday off and by myself. I'm gonna go see another movie (yup, I saw New Moon this weekend - I like the books, I like the movies) and just relax.
I had a wonderful time on Saturday. An acquaintance who was a friend of a friend is quickly becoming a friend to me straight. We both do needlework, so she came to my house and I showed her my stuff and then we sat and worked and chatted and nibbled for hours. Next time I get to go to her house so see all her stuff (she has a loom!) and then we'll work and chat and nibble. After that we may find a coffee house or just alternate. It's so much fun to have someone to talk to about crafts AND oh, I just thought of something, hmmm, the timing would be hard though, okay finish sentence - we have some health issues in common, and we both like science fiction and fantasy so lots of connections there. But enough different to be stimulating and interesting. In showing her my stuff I found a project 90% done that I had completely forgotten about! So now I've got it downstairs ... calling to me. It's a little louder than DP right now - grin. And the thought I had is that this friend is also interested in beading and I've not done any shows or fairs because I didn't have anyone to go with me. Linda may find that interesting and be willing to be my partner. I could try to sell some more jewelry. Hmmm, I'll think on it, she has a job and a kid and a hubby and so ... not a lot of free time. Happy Turkey day to those who celebrate it.
18 Nov 2009
Updated list and wiki with one project moving into each section. Still haven't done the instructions. I hit a bout of extreme fatigue/anemia and can barely stay coherent at work. I hope to do some of the DP stuff this weekend, not the least of which is READ all the board stuff. People are coming up with really cool things, I think, but I am literally going "okay, I have no idea what that means, but um, okay". It's all so very technical. I like Louise going after what we in the ISO business call "low-hanging fruit". Do the simple (for a given value of simple) fixes first. I like that she's asking people and motivating people who are say "we need to do thus and such" to step and DO that which they say should be done.
Anyway, I have got all my contractors lined up to check stuff out. I have decided that I am probably going to try for some of the main basic fixes this year so that the finishing off happens next year. Otherwise, my budget next year takes a big hit.
My toe stuff is the same with me being ultra careful not to re-damage my foot. I am having a whole "I can only wear three of my pairs of shoes" issue between the toe splint and the orthotic inserts. A really nice friend at work mentioned that she had a ton of shoes in my size she can't wear anymore and brought them in for me to check out. I hope to stop by tomorrow. That would be soooo sweet if I can use some of her shoes. I am doing okay with stairs, having learned the way to go down them that doesn't hurt my foot. However, I now seem to have bruised the ball of my right foot so basically walking hurts no matter what. And I walk all the time. I have trained myself over the last five years to walk all the time. Even with my sprained ankle, I'd forget and start off someplace and I'm doing it again. I saw the acupuncturist today for my initial review (no needles yet) and she asked if I took pain meds. And I had to admit that I don't. I forget. It hurts, I think 'it hurts', and that is generally the extent of my response.
I've been trying to do my yoga very carefully but I think this is the best time to try, i.e. if doing some of these poses are bad, do them now, as I'm starting to recover so I don't bounce myself back to square one after four months. Do it now, when I've just started to figure out which ones I can do and which I can't. Downward dog seems okay, I'm worried about plank and may need to do that on my knees. I'm running through that sequence tomorrow so I'll see. Otherwise, all is okay. As I said to a friend, I'm doing well and feel fine. You know, except for the torn tendon sheath in my left foot, the weak right ankle that hurts in cold weather, the sciatica, the carpal tunnel in my right hand, the problem with my left clavicle, the slipped disk in my neck, and the headaches (oh yeah, and thrown in that bruised foot). Grin. Meaning, except for the parts that are BROKEN, I'm fine. I actually generally think I am in good health. Ha!
11 Nov 2009
Updated list and wiki but no movement same as last week. Have read the PP questions! Did upload Ibsen. Am ready to do the instructions on the others. Now I just need to figure out F1->F1 because I think I can run Vol II back through F2 and be fine. Did do some F2 over the last few days and even finished off an old project.
I should have the nice man to fix my shower stall come in two weeks. Tomorrow I have a few more calls to finish off getting quotes and then I have to decide. Set it up to be done by the end of the year and blow the budget (but have it DONE). Or wait until the new year so it falls into that budget. I think I'm okay with $$ actually but I like my budget not to be too out of whack. Hmmm, I shall ponder.
Long story short I did get a podiatrist appointment. She was a brusque in demeanor but very kind and helpful in practice. It's odd to have a grumpy presenting person be actually nicer than a pleasant presenting person. So, I have a torn tendon sheath in my 2nd toe, I have to wear prostheses for 4-6 months and may even need to have a cast done of my foot to get one made for me. She was able to get me something to walk out the door with and the difference was amazing. She talked about how swollen my toes were and I didn't even see it until the swelling went down. DAMN my toes/foot were swollen, it was really a big difference. I have to wear shoes ALL THE TIME at home, which I dislike intensely. No more going barefoot ever. Not even in the shower, I have to tape my toes together! But if it means the pain stops and NO SURGERY, then I'll do it. :smile: And nicely the orthotic for my shoe is helping the toe and NOT making the plantar fascitis worse (so far - fingers crossed).
So far so good on staying on routine with my weights and even my yoga although I'm now weirdly hesitant in case it hurts my foot which hello, I've been doing the yoga for the same weeks my tendon sheath was torn and didn't notice any problems. It appears to be mostly when I'm walking and the full weight is on the weak part where the tear is. Even with downward facing dog where I'm on my toes, I'm not putting the full weight on it the way a step in walking does. Hey, I forgot to mention that my x-ray of my foot shows that once again, crappy construction! Although my middle toe is NOT longer than my big toe? My joint is nearly 1/2 inch further up and it should NOT be. It was that, in conjunction with "as you age, Eileen" that made the sheath tear. Too much stress where there shouldn't be which is why the toes buddied up (to support the weak one) and the orthotic in shoe (to force foot back onto right weight bearing area - 50% on your big toe, did you know that?)
04 Nov 2009
Updated list and wiki but no movement beyond my changes to the list. Still haven't read the PP questions. Have done some F2. Some qual, some few pages, some Spaldings.
Still cold, but less bitter. I found a scarf not made in China but really need to go looking for like organic cotton or bamboo scarves/hats. Mind you I'd like to NOT pay $50 for a scarf or hat but at the same time I try really hard to support both small businesses and ecostufftypestuff. :grin: I had the house HVAC seen to and FINALLY did my calls on having people come fix the various things that need fixing (grout/caulk on shower stall, repairs to drywall, removal of cabinet and sink and then repairs to drywall, new flooring). Boy it would be nice to have it done and over with.
No call from Ortho yet and when I called they said "we have a week and that is tomorrow" which was actually last Friday so ... I need to call. I tend to alternate between days of "I am stepping on a piece of glass OW" and "my foot hardly bothers me at all" so I have no idea what is up with that. I hope to get the appointment soon because I can tell I'm starting to roll my foot to avoid the pain, which throws off my ankle, knee, hip, and lower back. I don't need that grief. I re-read some stuff and couldn't believe I've actually had this neck thing since March. It is still bothering me. I can't quite seem to resolve it. I whacked myself on the head pretty hard, ow. But my contact dermatitis is nicely fading. Fingers crossed I really figured it out this time.
Work is still busy but the boundaries conversations keep helping me stay sane (ish). I have managed to catch up with a lot of stuff and that feels like a weight off me. Also, I started doing some of my yoga at work. I took my yoga mat into work this week, finally so I can do some of the floor patterns. I just seemed to fall into a "it is the thing to get through to get to the stuff I want" at home. Whereas at work it is "this wonderful break from the stress". I am balanced because I started taking some of the research protocols home with me to read in the quiet (see section on pulled in five directions in October). Thus I spend some "my time" on work and some work time on "me". All my little attempts to be balanced. I think the small depression is fading. And doing the small steps to get back into my routine helped a lot!
And now back to Eileen's Talk