Claustrophobic?

I hope not. I have to go in tomorrow to get an MRI of my knee. Hooray. Not.

I know that I'll be glad in the long run that I know, one way or the other, if something is seriously wrong. But I always feel like a fool for going to the doctor when I'm not literally falling apart. Anyone else feel that way? I feel really silly because it's not like my knee is in PAIN, per se. It's just uncomfortable. And..well, not right.

When I injured my right knee in 2001, I was so frustrated that there wasn't anything they could do. Because the injury was to my patellar ligament (tendon? whatever), and not super serious, there wasn't much to do. I swear, if the doctor had told me to work on my quad strength one more time, he would have needed a plastic surgeon. For months, I wished someone would bump me the wrong way in the hall or knock me off my bike or even just take a bat to my stupid knee. Anything, ANYTHING (I thought) to make it just a little worse so they could fix it.

I think that's why I'm so frustrated now. I'm afraid of having just another nagging injury that can't be fixed. At least lefty mcleft knee is in good company with right knee and the sesmoid bones in both feet. I feel like the universe is conspiring against the lower half of my body. Why?

Aaaaand the pity party is over. Thanks for coming.

Just for Fun (aka: Bored)

Things you have done during your lifetime: 

( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Washed, groomed and dressed someone after they died.
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter - I feel like yes, but I can't place it...with Dad maybe?
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons - What is recent?
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain-naked - Oh Triathalon!
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
(x) Been sky diving - Heck Yes!
( ) Been bungee jumping - Heck NO!
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty - Never up close, at least...
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(x) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(x) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
(x) Been to Niagara Falls
(x) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
(x) Saw and heard a glacier calf - If this means what I think it does.
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(x) Been water-skiing
(x) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
(x) Been to the Louvre
(x) Swam in the Mediterranean
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Been to Las Vegas
(x) Been snorkeling in any ocean
(x) Been naked or topless on a beach

Seems I've got some traveling to do...  :)

Life is Throwing Lemons

Most of you probably don't remember that time freshman year of college when I messed up my right knee (playing Powderpuff football...it's kind of a funny story, in retrospect).  And my knee looked like a small melon.  

Well, lefty got jealous.  And has decided, 7.5 years later to get its fair share of attention.  Crap.  So, I'm kind of laid up right now, deciding at what point I'll go to the doctor.  Is it even worth it?  Meh.  I'm apathetic toward my failing body.  

I'm too young for this. 

I've Been Sucked In

I'd never do drugs, but I feel like my addictive personality is often manifest in my desire, no, NEED, to read. And when I find something I like, it's all over. Poor Hubster doesn't really get it, plus he kind of gets the short end of the stick when I'm so absorbed.

If you've taken a look at the books I've read so far this year (just to the right...), you'll notice that I've flown through the first three books in the Twilight series in the last 6 days. FYI, in case you don't know, it's all about vampires and werewolves and the crazy human girl in the middle.  Sounds cheesy, I know!

I totally avoided the Harry Potter series at first. I thought what on earth could a children's book have to offer me. And then I found out. And became obsessed. I'm going to try to get through all the HPs in Spanish this year. I'm half way through the first book. 

So I should have known when the Twilight series came out that it was only a matter of time until I would succumb.

It's funny because I'm not terribly impressed by Stephenie Meyer's writing. She's kind of repetitive, especially when describing her character's emotions. She seems to be inconsistent in the tiniest of details (something J.K. Rowling NEVER did). And I feel like there are so many emotional, moral, spiritual considerations that she is not having her characters tackle. This last one kind of baffles me, especially since she is a Mormon. But then again, I haven't read the final book.

What she has done, on the other hand, is create completely compelling characters. I identify with all of them for different reasons. I don't think I'm as bad as some 15 year olds out there who want to be Mrs. Edward Cullen.  That's a bit much for me.  Plus, I've already got my soul mate.  But I can see how it's so easy to get sucked into these characters' lives.  

Anyway, I should try and return to real life and not let Bella, Edward and Jacob consume my thoughts. I've got work to do and a presentation tomorrow people!

I'll probably finish the last book this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

As of now, though, I think I'd choose Jacob. But that's just me.

How Could You NOT?

Love a face like this?? :)

Finally!

It's taken long enough, but I've finally figured out how to make a header for my blog! I couldn't find a single explanation of how to do it that didn't involve Photoshop or Microsoft Publisher (which my Mac - oh how I love thee - does not have).  BUT!  Genius.  After some searching, I discovered that I have a program called ArcSoft that can do essentially the same thing.  I'm sure I'll play with it more later, but I'm SO FREAKIN' THRILLED!  

It's the little things people.

Whew.  It's now time for Mac & Cheese & ketchup (the standard Hubster's-at-the-hospital dinner) and 24!  Jack Bauer I could kick your blog butt any day!

The Final Countdown!

Ba bah, bu dah dut dah dah...

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!  

Well, kind of!  :)  It's official (and it really has been for some time now).  In just 46 days, we're off to Argentina for 6 weeks.  Wooooot!!!

And we'll get to see these lovies.

And we'll get to visit here, maybe even squeezing in puppy play time.

And we'll trek here (it's really not that far for some tasty gellato).

And he'll be  T H I S  happy, because we'll be in his favorite place.  Ever.

Just Like Christmas!

For Christmas this year, Hubster and I decided not to get each other presents.  Instead we were each in charge of a date.

On My Christmas Day, Hubster made breakfast - chocolate raspberry scones, mimosas and deliciousness.  And then we went rock climbing.  I loved it!

A real life monkey my friends.

My date for Hubs was this past Saturday.  But it's a two-parter, so pictures will have to wait.

I don't know about you, but our weather was FREAKIN' AWESOME this weekend! Which is also kind of like a Christmas present.  Sunday we decided to visit Hubs brother and then bike home through DC.

Before the chocolate ice cream bar attacked.

The Mall really is pretty, huh?

On our way home, the path is just beside Reagan National.  I'm not a huge fan of flying, but seeing one of these giants take off is pretty incredible. By the way, 7 weeks until we're on that plane!!!!!!  (More on that later, too).

And, as a final note and thanks to God: 

I have the best Hubster AND it's much warmer now!