Happy Holidays!
So, we've prepared a little holiday gift for each of the people on my support team, people who have been instrumental to me. I will deliver them after lunch today.
The weather has been light snow and very cold up until now, and will switch to rain (eek!) after noon today.
I will wear thick jeggings, sweatpants, and a velveteen long skirt with a T shirt, ribbed sweater, and thick red Irish fishermen's cardigan under my orange wool (lined) coat. Hopefully, this, paired with my taking the bus, will keep me from experiencing the "Tin Woodsman" effect.
Labels: BAD, gift, weather
Limitations
So, I can't do the following (doctor's orders):
~ Activities with a danger of falling and landing (eliminating almost every sport I have participated in: Aikido, Horseback Riding, skating--ice or roller, rollerblading, etc.)
~ Activities with toe-ing in (no downhill skiing)
~ Activities with high G-forces (nixing certain roller coasters and bungy jumping)
Those limitations the doctor has given me related to my work are:
~ No standing for three hours at a time.
~ No teaching back-to-back laboratory sections.
Labels: BAD, BAD.health
Swing Dancing, September 2010
Maureen and I met up with Christina, Regina, and John at swing dancing tonight. Kevin joined us all later in the evening. Five Guys Named Moe (I counted four guys...) played tonight. I saw and danced with some of my dance friends who are now considered regulars: Philip, Ralph, and Andrew. I scared some unsuspecting guy away who was asking, "Can I dance with you?" by answering, "With one caveat...I have fake hips." (The next thing I knew, he was running away from me.)
I just enjoyed some cantaloupe, pasta salad, and chicken soup before writing this post. Time to turn into a pumpkin....
Labels: BAD, dance, dancing, dine, Faith, music, sleep
Art All NIght 2010
I met up with Regina and John for Art All Night. We also met up with Charles and Susan. The encaustic wax was useful for our little group, as both Victoria and Susan, Charles and I discussed separately and together. I spotted an Icelandic work by Stacy, and we all found favorites.
Saw K & Theresa there, Chris W (a former coworker) there. As of 11.00 Sunday, Stacy said she spotted me there, as well, at a distance. (Definitely a place to see and be seen!)
A fun--albeit rainy---ending to a productive day!
Labels: art, BAD, music, painting, photography, seasons, weather
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2010
After choir practice and singing in the choir at the noon Mass, I stopped by for the talk sponsored by the Race and Reconciliation Dialogue Group: "News from Haiti," by Richard Gosser, Executive Director of Partners in Progress. An informative talk, with "before" and "after" slides of schools, orphanages, and convents---before the quake and after the quake.
I received a message from Maureen with an invitation to go for a field trip and walk about while we shop. We went to Monroeville Mall, and then went to Whole Foods for a snack. We ran into her niece, Lauren, who will be taking her certification exam tomorrow afternoon. She gave me helpful hints about my achy-upon-intense walking left hip.
I returned home to prep for tomorrow's class and quiz administration.
I'll go to bed early tonight.
Labels: BAD, biology, exercise, Faith, friends, geology, international culture, school, sleep, walking, work
Health Check 2009
I'm up early for a big day---for a health check-up with the specialist. Mom is going to her today, as well.
I read Marissa's blog about their mini Christmas vacation fiasco. Boo Hoo Hoo (or is it "Ho Ho Ho" as Solomon would say?) I loved her recounting of their stories of Santa love.
~~~
15.45
Upon returning from our yearly health checks (and a Taco Bell run), I wrote a couplet to respond to a poem and po'card from a couple I know:
Just finished my yearly check-up[s], and yearly mammogram this week.
All is well up to now...
Hopefully a bellwether for 2010!
My two total hip replacements I had (in 2008 and 2009) will once again allow me to Nordic ski, as I was wont to do on my way to class when at Wellesley.
Many well-wishes for your 2010.
I will tuck into the confines of my apartment three pillows made by Lalang. I hope my visitors will enjoy them as much as I do.
Labels: BAD, Christmas, deltiology, dining, family, friends, health, Lalang, surgery, travel
Yearly Check-Up
I rode the bus to my doctor's office, and had my yearly check-up. "No Complaints," I declared, and also gave her my current list of prescriptions and nutritional supplements. My BP was ~135/75, and my BMI indicates that I am overweight. I told her about my procedures this past year, and the good outcome of them (she was there, visiting me in the hospital after my surgery)! I asked for a script for a procedure tomorrow, gave her a Christmas card for herself, family, and staff, and was on my way.
After my appointment, I made my way to a 24-hour computer lab on campus (the adjacent building had a power outage) and found the doors locked. Went to the computer lab/libe. Am printing out some work.
Labels: BAD, blogs, Christmas, computer, email, health, surgery
The Mantra
One of my friends reminded me today to keep my immune system well, by taking vitamins, prophylactic antibiotics before going to the dentist, and washing my hands to protect my endoprosthetics from infection.
I told her that I have a mantra at the end of each weekly class:
Wash your hands
before you touch your face
touch your hair
Eat or
Drink.
It's great---but tough---being a bionic person!
Labels: BAD, health, safety, surgery, teaching
Views of Christmases Past
The past few days, with the snow and slick weather have called for my use of my cane on occasion. This brings to mind (Christmases) past, when it was necessary for me to use the cane to get around. Now, I use the cane as my insurance against another surgery.
Labels: BAD, Christmas, seasons, surgery, weather
Rockettes December 2009
Mom and I went to the French bakery in Millvale, the bakery in Shadyside, and spoke to a friend about planning family issues. I went to work--the class was on-task and finished early. I'm calling my insurance about what medical appointments I need to make by the end of this calendar year.
~~~
22.30
Mom, Dad, and I just returned from our evening out with ~85 others from Saint Paul Cathedral to the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. On the way there, we waited at ~18.00 for the bus with Donna and the two Rosemarys. We were joined by many more people and we retrieved our tickets from Roseann and Pat P. and boarded the second bus. We took a route through downtown past the creche (singing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel") and were dropped off by BJ (the choir director for St. Benedict's parish and our bus driver tonight) in front of the Benedum.
The sound was cranked up for the audience, we enjoyed the touring company of the Rockettes, the dances were great, and there were wonderful Christmas story tableaux with live sheep and a camel, and a scrolling Christmas story at the end.
Our bus stopped for ten minutes in front of Macy's windows, and those few of us who braved the newly minted winter weather enjoyed the window dressing.
Mom, Dad, and I walked back home after the bus dropped us off.
I noted that the costumes in the 1970's were more like swimsuits---the Rockettes costumes are more modest now, making it possible for a dancer with hip surgery to dance with them. Also, there are ethnic minority women dancing with them, as well.
Labels: BAD, celebration, Christmas, Church, dance, dolls, friends, Pittsburgh, seasons, shopping, St. Paul Cathedral, theater, transportation
Heaven on Earth: A Second Life
When at a street fair in Philadephia this past month, I overheard someone saying, "And when dancers stop dancing...." referring to the second career of dancers after their oft-times truncated performing life is over. I turned to my friend Sara and said, "There's not a whole lot of us dancers who dance again after stopping. [and, as in explanation:] Now, my new hips let me dance again."
I know that my original acetabular structure should not have allowed me to dance--no, wait, to WALK. But I was able to dance (en pointe), run, hurdle, rockclimb, horseback ride, ski (downhill and nordic), do aikido (including taking high falls), and a multitude of other activities. It's a wonder that I could even walk (and I've been told that by others, too). I was blessed.
Then the structures became arthritic, and I am fortunate that I live in a time and place on this planet that I could get physical therepy, then subsequently obtain operations to "repair" my hips. I'm older now, and can't do most of the activities I mentioned that I could do fifteen or more years ago, due to limitations on my new bionic hips. But I'm doubly blessed, because I've been given a second chance on life. I can still walk. I can still dance. One of my friends calls my situation a "second life." And it is so. You hear people talk about Heaven as a place where there is no pain, and where one can dance and play like when younger, and where you are surrounded by people who love you. My, my, my, then: I am now living a Heaven on Earth! [*Pyuh, pyuh, may I not be jinxed*]
It reminds me of the song sung by Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance."
Labels: BAD, dance, exercise, love, music, Songs, surgery, walking
1.5 mph
I now walk approximately one and half miles per hour, as determined by my jaunt to mid-Oakland this afternoon after work.
Labels: BAD, surgery, walking
The Flu
Two instructors this week at work have been out with the flu. I covered one section last night. I could sense that a small group of students were perturbed by my suggestions on how to work more efficiently, so I stated, "I'd be less irritating if I didn't care as much." All in all, they were a good, hardworking class.
When I returned after work and the computer lab last night in a light (barely) drizzle, Auntie Chi had already arrived. She and I shared stories of what had occurred (who had visited and whom we had visited) since her last visit here in April 2009. I did a little side-stepping dance to show off my new hips.
Mom is off for some blood work this morning: I will treat her and Dad to breakfast afterwards.
~~~~~
Mom, Dad, and I went to Primanti's in the Strip District. Dad and I split a Colossal Fish Sandwich, and Mom and Auntie Chi split a pastrami / corned beef sandwich. Dad and I had the fries and slaw on the side. It was a fun early lunch before I headed in to work.
Labels: BAD, biology, dance, dining, health, student, surgery, visitor, work
Busy Busy Day: First Day of Choir Practice
Thursdays will be my busy days this semester. Even without classes yesterday, my Thursday was busy.
I took my prophylactic antibiotics before a routine teeth cleaning, met Eric for computing help while covering for B for an office hour, sitting in office hours while a handful of my new students came to catch up and make up, (a second consecutive day at) physical therapy, and then our first day of choir practice.
To introduce myself, I said, "Hi, I'm Grace---And I'm standing," which brought a round of applause. I also said, "I've been in choir since '98, with a hiatus...And I teach at Pitt."
Don explained that "[I] now have..."
"..hips!" I exclaimed, joyously.
~~~
4.50am Sunday 13 Sept 09
Oh, also missed the Steelers 2009+ season opening game.
Labels: BAD, biology, Choir, games, health, school, sports, student, surgery, teaching, teeth, work
My Dancing Day
So, it was another dancing day (evening, really). I observed the class, then my mental dance card included (i.e., I danced eleven dances with):
Philip (whose mom went to Wellesley),
Andrew,
Larry (who was pleased to see me dancing again),
Frank,
(another) Andrew (to whom I explained "When in doubt, err on the gentler side"),
Adam (who was happy to see me again),
Andrew I (again),
Fred,
Philip (again),
Fred (again, this time a cha-cha),
and
Molly.
It turns out Molly arrived with my friend Marie (whom I know from the Newman Center). All three of us gals departed at the same time, after Marie had a chance to look into dance lessons...
What a fun evening!
Labels: BAD, dance, Faith, friends, Wellesley
First Day Without a Cane
Yesterday, I went to physical therapy, grocery shopping, to the eye doctor's, shopping/grocery shopping, and out for roast chicken with bacon sandwiches, all without a cane! They all required short jaunts, but there was some uphill-ish walking (grocery shopping), as well as stairs (dinner). I am SO proud of myself!
Labels: BAD, exercise, surgery, water exercise
Laundry, Physical Therapy, Airline Miles Promotion
I awoke at ~6am today to do some laundry. After breakfast I went to physical therapy. I told Keelan that I was kind of sore in the socket from Monday's walking adventures. I still need to develop my muscles...
I completed my profile for the airline miles promotion, and played the online geography game. I also took a nice nap this afternoon.
Labels: BAD, exercise, games, laundry, pain, sleep, travel, water exercise
Physical Therapy, Continued II; Monday Sundaes III, Bible Study
Went to physical therapy this morning, and added exercises for my knees--using what I call the "clock" machine. Keelan also mentioned leg squats, wall squats, and straightening the knee for knee strengthening.
Went home and cleaned up @ Mom & Dad's, took a nap, then went with Rachel to Squirrel Hill for Monday sundaes. I had a mango sorbet with a strawberry. Then walked about, window shopping and stopped in the library.
We then went to Bible Study, where we read James 4:11-12 and discussed it. I mentioned that "God gives us a daily Sabbath, during which we can quietly use the intellects He gave us to make a 'To Do' list. And then we carry out the list, one by one, step-by-step, without worry or being anxious about anything."
Rachel and I went for gyros for dinner, with some hot peppers. They were tasty and delicious.
Labels: BAD, cleaning, dining, exercise, Faith, ice cream, list, organizing
What I Can Do Now! IV
I can walk with a minimal wobble, for short distances.
I can go in the therapy pool without covering my incision.
I can carefully dance, O so gently, so gingerly.
Yay-Ah!
Labels: BAD, dance, surgery, walking, water exercise
Pool Exercises, Free Sandwiches, St. Anthony
After donning an OpSite (TM) sticker on my small but pernicious? tiny scab, I did pool exercises (after my land exercises) for the first time before my second total hip replacement:
walking (10 minutes)
side stepping (5 minutes)
~ronde de jambes en l'air: i.e., "front, side, back" 20 reps/side
and, finally,
"Stretch that neck" by submersing in the water, putting my arm behind my back, and stretching my neck in the opposite direction. This is to counteract effects of using a cane on my shoulder.
I picked up Karina, and we bought sodas to get free bacon, cheddar, and roast beef Wednesday specials. We sat at the library, read women's and travel magazines, picked out books and ran into Jim B., my former boss, on the way to the car.
Went home to look for some misplaced/lost items (noticed this morning). Boy, oh boy, time to pray to Ss. Anthony and Jude for lost items. Found the documents I need to replace the lost documents, but it sure would be nice to find my lost items.
~~~~~~~~
Dinner was at William's family's home. I took photos of the children before they ate their dinner, but while they were seated in their high chairs. We had capelli d'angelo with sauce, chicken, fish, mixed veggies, milk, and raspberry-banana cake. Beatrice kept asking to be carried upstairs by me.."Not yet, Beata. Not today. Later."
Labels: BAD, career, Carnegie, dine, dining, exercise, friends, health, library, niece and nephew, pain, prayer, water exercise
