Day Ninety

What a crazy week! After yesterday's crazy hailstorm, the sun was shining brightly and it was warm out. I knew the seasons changed here, but I didn't know it was every other day!

I was feeling a little stir crazy and decided to try and make my way to the mailbox. For most people this would probably be pretty easy and a normal thing to do. But I live up on a hill, surrounded by bumpy grassy hills and a staircase.

I went ahead and rode my wheelchair across and down the grassy hill and then followed the gravel path down toward the street where my mailbox was. Getting there wasn't too bad. It was a little bumpy but doable. Getting back was a different story.  

I had to ride my wheelchair up the gravel driveway backwards so I could use my one foot to help push. There was no way I would make it up the holey hill, so I decided to drag myself up the stairs on my bum and pull my chair after me. And.... I did it! I was exhausted and breathing heavily and it was awesome! I hadn't done any cardio in so long and it felt good. 

I doubt I will do that everyday because it was scary thinking I might get stuck and not be able to get up the hill.  But i did it!

Day Eighty Nine

I was peacefully sitting and knitting and watching dexter when I heard a loud pounding against my walls and windows. I rushed to the door (as fast as I could on one leg and crutches) and opened the door to see hail pouring down.

This was the closest we had gotten to snow all winter/spring. About time! I just wish it would turn into snow, that would be fun to see; and it would be a blast for Riley to play in! :)

Day Eighty Eight

My friend Christa and I both like writing and want to write THE BOOK. So we decided to put our talented heads together and finally write one. I had an idea for a series of books about girls in competitive gaming that would appeal to the YA crowd and she liked the idea. Since we both have a lot of experience in gaming this should be perfect.

I also found this cool software program a while back called SnowflakePro that helps you organize the book and characters and it will be real helpful in keeping track of our work since we can both run the program and save the file to send back and forth. I am really looking forward to completing this! I already started with my part and am working on developing two of the characters and their background story.

Day Eighty Seven

Ever since I lost my cellphone case I was using a sock, knotted at the end, as a case. I referred to this affectionately as a "phone sock". Recently I got a book called "Knit & Bitch" that had a pattern for a cell phone case.

I started following the pattern, which used two needles, and about halfway through I decided I would rather make my own pattern and use double pointed needles. The buttons are actually functional and not just for decoration.

I am probably one of the few people in the world that actually prefers to use double pointed needles, my mom won't touch them. She is so old school!

I had fun creating these phone cases, they are quick and easy to do, and plan to make a bunch to give to friends that want to use them!

Day Eighty Six

I made an excellent dinner tonight. It was healthy, simple, and yummy! First I marinated some extra firm tofu in teriyaki sauce all day. To cook it I stir-fry'd over a low heat; tofu, sliced red peppers, fresh garlic, and fresh baby spinach in EVOL (extra virgin olive oil). I served that over a bowl of white rice, lightly salted. YUMMY!

Day Eighty Five

I have moved up from knitting single items to knitting a set. I feel like I need to hit the crafts fairs and start selling my stuff. I am pretty impressed at what I have done! This pic is a scarf and mitten set where I incorporated the yarn from the scarf into the wrist of the gloves. They look good! (If I don't say so myself!)

Day Eighty Four

Nothing exciting today. I ordered a sewing machine though and play to do some exciting things with it. I am such a freaking homebody! Oh yeah... and spent HOURS helping my mom get Live Messenger set up so I could send her a link. Silly mummy! (Maybe not hours but i think it felt like that to her!)

Day Eighty Three

Sara, Drea, and Chloe picked me up to have sushi and play trivia with them at Blue C Sushi. We had a great time eating (can't go wrong with sushi!), playing, and hanging out! I need to hang out with them more because that was good times. :)

I used my crutches tonight because I am tired of my chair. On the way out I had to go up a bit of a hill and partway up I lost my balance and fell backwards. By some luck Drea was behind me and reacted quickly and caught me! That was so awesome, I would have wiped out hard!

Day Eighty Two

This is the door to outside. Today Riley and I sat staring outside where the sun was shining brightly, its rays sneaking through the window trying to tempt us to go outside.

Riley was able to give into the temptation and go outside and play in the grass and sunshine while I sat on my bed with my leg propped up feeling the breeze from the open door. I do roll out to the porch and and sit and read at times, but it isn't the same as frolicking in the grass enjoying a beautiful day. Soon!

Day Eighty One

Today I saw the sun shining and ventured outside. While I was out there I decided to see if I could salvage what was left of my little tomato plant seedlings thing-a-ma-jobs. I clumsily lowered my self to the ground and attempted to plant them with the tiny hand shovel I happened to find that I had left out months ago when I was playing in the yard.

Yay for me being messy and leaving things laying around! If I had been neat and organized I wouldn't have been able to make my way to the shed where the tools are kept!

I also took a great picture of the beautiful flowers that are blanketing my yard. And yes mother, I know they are weeds but they look gorgeous! :)

Day Eighty

Zach called from basic training today. He was able to use his cell phone for like 10 minutes. It was great to hear from him and it seems like he is doing good. He did mention he has been homesick a few times, but said he is also adjusting well.

That's my boy! I am so proud of him! Let's hope the years of videogame playing and competitive swimming has trained him well for this! :)

Day Seventy Nine

I was so excited today to knit something besides scarfs; I made my first pair of fingerless mittens! I had to start and take apart and start again about three times becuase the pattern I had was for smaller needles and thinner yarn. So I was super thrilled to basically make my own pattern and have it work!

There is no stopping me now! I am the mad knitter... mwahahahaha!!

Day Seventy Eight

Diana came over tonight so I could help her set up a business page on Facebook. We got it set up but we both got distracted with all the toys and gadgets on Facebook. It is so tricky like that!

She also got my mail and took my garbage out which was very nice since it was frustrating me today!

I have to stop myself from calling Diana 'Dirty Diana" since Susie sang that song everytime I said Diana's name!

Day Seventy Seven

I taught myself to knit with double pointed needles! I am so excited because I can make gloves and stuff now. As you can see in the picture I already started making some gloves... but actually I took that apart and started again because it seemed to wide so I changed the pattern. I hope it still comes out right! 

I am really digging this knitting stuff :)

Day Seventy Six

I haven't been feeling too peachy lately so I took a few breaks while working and enjoyed the sunshine. I threw the ball for Riley for a while and she really enjoyed. Poor puppy needs some running around time. She has been really good about being cooped up with me all the time! It was nice to soak in the sun and laugh as Riley was her normal goofy self running all around!

Ohh.. and my lawn looks nice when it hasn't been mowed with all the pretty flowers growing!

Day Seventy Five

Ashley stopped by to visit today and it was nice to have real live human company (as opposed to puppy company).  I really miss going out and doing things and hanging out and going out and doing things and etc...! 

I got my application back from the licensing department for the handicap placard because the doc forgot to put his license number on it! Silly goose! Luckily I was able to call and get it and get the letter ready to mail back. I also filled out my 2010 census... did you?? :)

Day Seventy Four

I went to the doctors today for my four week checkup. He was very impressed with the flexibility in my ankle. As I was stretching it a lot I KNEW he would be! I even told Susie that he would be totally impressed! I got the X-rays of the break before the surgery and it was kind of cool seeing the broken bone in such detail. It is kind of scary seeing it too!

He did mention that there is a tiny piece of bone floating next to the break that they weren't able to include called a butterfly fragment or something like that. Supposedly it will fuse itself to the bone at sometime and won't just wander around my system all lost. He wanted to make it very clear he didn't just forget it. I told him I can see what an awesome job he did! 

The tech who did my X-rays was very chatty about derby. She had seen a Rat City bout last year and wants to take some friends to see it this year. She said she had been a figure skater for many, many years and I told her to go try it herself! I told her about PFM and how it is a practice place and not a lot of contact unless you want to. She was around 50ish and said she was too old. I told her you are never too old for derby! My doctor said he saw a Roller Derby movie a few weeks back and wondered if Roller Derby was anything like it was in the movie. I told him it was EXACTLY like that! :)

I don't have another appointment for four more weeks. FOUR more weeks with no weight bearing! OMG.. this four weeks felt like forever.. I can't even imagine what four more will feel like! And he I can probably drive my car (a manual) after about 8-10 weeks, but I can't wear my boot when I do because that is against the law. I am starting to worry a little because my job ends soon and then I don't know what I can do about medical coverage for the PT appointments. I guess I can do COBRA, but that costs money!

Day Seventy Three

Nothing much to write about today. Today, yesterdays bad day turned into a bad weekend. :(  Hopefully things start looking up soon and I will be able to start doing stuff again. I go to my month check-up tomorrow and I think I will have X-rays done to see how the repair is doing and am hoping for good news.

Day Seventy Two

Icky day today. I was supposed to go to the movies with Ashley but she had some car stuff come up and couldn't make it. The doctors office said they mailed out my prescription Wednesday so I could get it filled before the weekend and by today I still haven't received it. So that means I am out today and have to make it until my doctors appointment Monday morning. I am not looking forward to the rest of the weekend.

I really hate having to rely on someone to check my mail for me. I hate asking someone to do something that I could do myself in a matter of minutes. And if my neighbor isn't available to check it, who do I ask? Who do I ask to come over just to walk down the driveway to check my mail for me? And then I hate having to find someone to pick up my prescription. I really can't wait until I can walk and drive again so I can actually start doing more stuff on my list and have good stuff to write about.

Day Seventy One

I made cupcakes today and I used the bright fluorescent food coloring that I had from the cookies I made a month or so ago. The cupcakes turned out pretty good, but I think I can do better! The only problem now is I have a dozen cupcakes that need eaten! Diana stopped by to drop off my mail and said she would grab one to eat tomorrow. I wonder if I can freeze the rest?

On an even higher note, I received a letter from Z today! Appears things are going pretty awesome for him in basic training. I knew he would like it. :)

Day Seventy

As I snapped a picture of my breakfast this morning (which was cottage cheese with blueberries and sliced strawberries, and half a vegan blueberry muffin) I released two things; one, I am really obsessed with food and two, I need to start tagging my blogs where I mention food so I can add it up at the end of the year to see how obsessed I really am!

So I think I henceforth I will tag the posts I talk about food with the simple tag of "food". I also need to go through all my past posts and tag them! This will be fun! :)

EDIT: So I tagged all the posts that talk about food with 'food' and the grand total is.... 31 posts out of 70 mention food. Yep, I would say obsessed! But it is in a good way... I am obsessed with healthy eating. :)

Day Sixty Nine

Wonderful dinner with the Charter family tonight! I love Wednesday nights since that is the night each week I set aside to hang out with my adopted Washingtonian family. 

We went to Outback Steakhouse and had a yummy time! Food was good, service was good, and company was excellent! I had steak which I had not had for a LOOONNGGG time. It was especially good since I had been eating vegetarian all week.


I got a little crazy in my wheelchair and Christa had to tell me to slow down and gave me the "MOM" glare. LOL! That's what happens when you are cooped up all the time and you finally get to go out!

Day Sixty Eight

One of the awesome things that I will miss when Susie leaves, and until I am able to be mobile again, is all the great meals we have been having. I will still have the yummy salads and pasta and veges, but it was meals like today that aren't so easy to get or make.

For breakfast we had an egg scramble with tons of veges, sourdough toast, and sliced apples. For lunch we had freshly made sushi and sashimi that Susie brought back from her trip to the store today; it was super duper yummy goooooood! Susie loved Fred Meyer. It is a pretty handy store, I would have to say!


Oh yeah.. and after much effort on Susie's part, most of the blue and green is removed from my hair and it is now almost all blonde again. I like change! Change is good!

Day Sixty Seven

Today I taught the world to laugh.. oh wait, I mean I taught Susie to knit. Our mom insists that we both already knew how to knit, but neither one of us remembers knitting anything specific. Anyway.. I picked it up right away once I had the needles and yarn in my hands a few weeks ago and my sister was quick to pick it up as well.

We did discover that it appears that I knit left handed! Add that to the list of things I do left sided like snowboarding and play pool. Coolio!

Day Sixty Six

Today I introduced Susie to the Wii. She had a blast creating her Mii and then playing Wii Fit. I think she wants to get her own now. :)

We went to go to Victors for lunch and my car wouldn't start. I guess it didn't like sitting around for three weeks without being started. Diana did end up coming over a bit later and gave us a jump so we ended up going to Victors for dinner instead. We went shopping at Fred Meyers and came home to relax.

I did decide that I don't want to leave my house until I can put a little weight on my foot because living on a hill is not condusive to leaving my house to do something, anything away from my house. It was fine getting down to the car, but getting back to the house was very, very difficult and frustrating and exhausting. I can not wait UNTIL I AM HEALED.

Day Sixty Five

My buddy Daniel and I took Susie to her first roller derby bout tonight and I think she really enjoyed it. We sat in the handicap area so it was spacious and not squishy in the stadium seating (I have to find the positives with being injured).

The matches were fun to watch though the first one was a total blow out for one of the teams. The second one was a lot closer which is much more fun to watch. What made it even more cool was that over 5100 people came out to watch it and that was a world record for modern day flat track roller derby attendance! How cool is that!?

Watching it made me really, really, want to start skating again! Come on leg, HEAL!

We did have fun trying to think of more derby names and Daniel came up with one that I like because it keeps sticking in my mind, "I Don't Care Bear". I thought it was real cute and fit me. I could also practice my Care Bear stare to intimidate the other girls. I came up with the name, "A Sin A Min. Sugah" (Get it?  Cinnamon Sugar!) Hmmf. Well I am still thinking of them!

Day Sixty Four

My neighbor Diana brought over some eggs fresh from her chickens and Susie cooked them up for breakfast, they turned out awesome! They were such a bright color and fresh tasting. Yummy! I am getting so spoiled!

Speaking of spoiled; after a morning of working, we spent the day cleaning and organizing. By we I mean Susie did all the work and I sat in my chair wheeling back and forth wanting to help but not being allowed to.

I did get to make lunch and I made an awesome salad containing spinach, smoked salmon, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, pineapple, cucumbers, peppers, almonds, and dried blueberries. It was sooo good, especially after I added a special dressing made with red wine vinegar, oil, stout ground mustard, minced garlic, and a little OJ. 

During all the cleaning Riley stayed on her lead so she wouldn't run around and I put her blanket near the door were she lounged around watching.

The reorganization looks so nice. It is much easier to get around and it looks a lot more spacious. My floors are vacuumed, the bed is made, and everything is put away so neatly. Thanks Susie!

Day Sixty Three

Susie arrived today! Daniel picked her up from the airport and I told him to just look for the blonde, skinny, hot soccer mom. Luckily he found her soon enough with my awesome description. I also said she would probably be wearing nice jeans and a nice blouse with black boots.

When she showed up she was wearing nice jeans, a nice fitted jacket, and black boots. Do I know my sister or what? In that picture Daniel looked scared to death. I think he found out that Susie has the same sense of humor as me and he was in shock that there was someone else with the same personality and humor as me!

Susie got started right away and took all the garbage out, cleaned and organized the kitchen and the area I stash everything I am not sure where to put yet. It was much appreciated since I was having trouble travelling around that area without getting stuck on something! 

She also installed my new shower head on a cord so I was able to take a shower tonight!  Woo hoo! We had an awesome dinner or pasta and veges. :) As you can see in the picture since her face is such a blur, she was a whirlwind in the kitchen.

I showed her how my awesome beanbag can be arranged flat so you can use it as a bed and she got all set up.  Riley jumped in the picture like she does all of them! She is such a ham for the camera.

Day Sixty Two

Nothing exciting today. I did get a few things I ordered from Amazon like some yarn, a shower chair, and a detachable shower head. The box with the shower chair had a picture of a little old lady on it. That's what I feel like with this gimp leg and all my handicamp accessories!

Good news though, Susie will be here tomorrow, yay!  I have lots of stuff I need her help with around the place.

Day Sixty One

Yesterday Martina brought over my desktop computer and monitors from work and helped me set it up (okay, she did most of the work!). Today I finished getting everything organized and was able to work from my new work area! it made such a difference working off of dual 17" screens, a keyboard, and mouse compared to one 10" screen, no mouse, and a small keyboard. 

I also submitted an order with AmazonFresh.com last night and it was delivered this morning bright and early. Everything is delivered in these bright tubs with ice packs for refrigerated items and dry ice for frozen. 


They also threw in a bouquet of flowers for free. I assume this is because I am new to the service. Or maybe amazonfresh.com has a big ol' crush on me!


It was real nice to get fresh flowers, until I realized all my vases were high up on a shelf I couldn't get to with only one usable leg! Luckily I had a vase with some fake flowers in it that I was able to use. But now my poor fake flowers have been temporarily tossed to the side! 


I really liked using AmazonFresh and the prices were very comparable to the regular grocery store so I think I will continue to use it while I am unable to get to the store on my own accord.

Day Sixty

I went to the doctors today and they removed the splint and took a look at how I was healing. The doctor was super pleased at how well and how fast I was healing!



He had the nurse remove the stiches and staples and said I had a choice of a cast or a boot. The cast was good because it had protection and kept your foot in the position it needed to be in to heal. But the boot is good because you can remove it to take a shower and do foot exercises.


Though I was tempted to choose the cast for the stability, the thought of being able to take a shower without my leg hanging over the edge of the tub and being able to start exercising my foot for faster healing was a lot more tempting. Not to mention being able to remove the boot when it just got so freaking frustrating to wear it!

So..... I choose das boot! I just need one for the other leg and I would look like I just stepped out of a science fiction movie or videogame!



The doc (Dr. Berkowitz) also showed me Xrays of the before and after. I got a copy of the after with the plates and screws in my legs, I need to get a copy of the before with the pretty freaking cool shot of the fractures and breaks. I look at it and think, how the sam hill did I do that!

Also the doc said that it looks like I should be able to start putting weight on it in about four weeks! That's two weeks sooner then expected and what the normal healing time is. I must have super healing powers! I knew quitting smoking, quitting drinking, and eating healthy and exercising would come in handy. I am glad I put it all to the test eight months ago! Yay for getting healthy and super healing!