Letters/40

Dear Zeke, every morning this is where I find your toy mouse. Are you trying to tell me something? Dear Back, it's about time you leave me alone. You have now been hurting for two weeks since my little 'incident' on the mountain side. Although this has given me the excuse to ask hubs for nightly back rubs which he has so kindly obliged to. Dear Hubs, thank you for said nightly back rubs. I'm not sure they are actually helping but I think I'll keep that little tidbit to myself. Dear Nails, sorry I spent so long making you actually look presentable for the first time in months years and then proceeded to chip all of it off the moment I got anxious about something. I should learn my lesson and just not ever put it on in the first place. Dear Patience, you're running thin. I guess that's what happens when you plan a vacation six months in advance and it's finally only a week away! Lord have mercy on my students this week, it may be filled with worksheets.


Linking up with Ashley

Pretty boring around here

My days this week so far haven’t exactly been worth blogging about.  The weather has been chilly, and each day either a nurse comes to change my dressing, or a physical therapist comes to put me through my paces.  Of course, they don’t work the same days.  The therapy has been challenging, but I’ve been religious about keeping up with all exercises that the therapist wants me to do.  I’m moving right along with improvements and hope to move from the walker to a cane by the end of the week.

I’ve been in a state of withdrawal as far as taking pictures is concerned.  The robins running through the campsite are about the only thing that happens when I do get a chance to sit outside.  So that’s it for pictures the last three days.

There were a couple of personally exciting things that happened today.  We got up before the crack of dawn to get to a doctor’s appointment in Waycross, an hour away.  First thing was x-rays of my hip.  Sure enough, I got to see them and admire my bionic parts.  All of the nurses were surprised that I was getting around so well and not in a wheelchair.  Then after waiting a while, I had the 21 staples in my incision removed.  It went a lot easier than I expected.  The home nurse warned me that I had better take a pain killer for that procedure, but it wasn’t necessary.  I did count each one as it clinked into the pan. 

Then they put on a much smaller dressing without so much of the horrible skin ripping tape.  After that, I got to ask some questions, and halleluiah!  I don’t have to wear those compression socks that go from my toes to my crotch anymore.  They are terrible to put on, and I needed Kurt to put the one on my right leg.  He was as ecstatic as I at this news.  It’s been a real struggle with those things. 

So how boring was this afternoon?  Well, after doing my exercises, I ended up cleaning my six year old remote control device with Q-tips and rubbing alcohol.  Now that is a sad state of affairs in my book.  I’m really chomping at the bit to get back to normal activities.

Several folks have asked for an Emma update.  She is still enjoying her time with the dog lady of Folkston.  She is doing just fine, and enjoying her playtime with some of the boxers.  I’m hoping to be far enough along to have her come back some time early next week.  Right now I can’t take a chance on her causing me to lose my balance and fall down.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Engagiversary

Like most girls, I like to celebrate all of the little moments in our relationship. Anniversaries of our first date, first kiss, first time to eat pad thai together (too far?). Hubs thinks it's silly but it's not like I expect any big celebration over it (although I'll never turn down some chocolate), I just like to reminisce about all of the milestones we have had together. Well our latest -iversary was yesterday which marked three years since a certain girl got a text, that led her on a scavenger hunt across Chicago, that led her to a very nervous waiting man. This is the story of that fateful day when they officially decided to stop supporting American Airlines and end their long distance relationship by getting hitched. 

I had an interview that morning; an interview that I did not want to go to. It was an amazing opportunity with a large company but it meant sacrificing trips to Oklahoma to see hubs, and staying in Chicago to work impossibly long hours. Even though hubs was initially on board with me ditching my scheduled early morning interview and sleeping a few extra hours before he came to see me that day, he had somehow sweet-talked me into going last minute. So I set my alarm for extra early and headed to the other side of town. Hubs was supposed to be coming in later that afternoon. I say supposed to because little to my knowledge, he had been in town with my mom and sister since early that morning. When the time that he was supposed to be at my apartment came and passed I gave him a call but received a text back instead. It was short and to the point, ‘check behind the kitchen door.’ There, I found my laptop case, a Starbucks gift card, a ten-dollar bill and a web address. The web address gave me a video message from him and a map below it. I was given very precise instructions to follow the map to the appropriate Starbucks, go to the front counter and ask for an envelope for Chelsea. Inside, there would be the next clue. It was official, I was being sent on a scavenger hunt across Chicago. As I made my way to each location and was accumulating more videos, each Starbucks’ worker seemed to be more excited than the last. They were asking me questions like, was I nervous or did I know what he was planning. It’s safe to say that by this point I was certain what was going to happen at the end of all this but that didn’t make me any less nervous. By the time I got to the last Starbucks location, I was certain to where I would be heading next. As I rounded the corner onto the bustling Michigan Ave, I could see the familiar stonewall of the cathedral my sister and I swore as children that we would both be married at. I made my way past the crowd of shoppers and tourists and made my way into the courtyard where I saw my future husband standing by the fountain where we sat and talked on our first date. I really wish I could say that I remember every word he spoke but alas, the nerve and excitement took over. All I remember is saying ‘yes’ through a wall of tears while throwing my arms around the man I would soon marry. That was now three years ago but it is still just as vivid. Happy three year engagiversary hubs. 

Linking up with Shanna and Sylvie

Travel Tuesdays-Thailand

Just a little something to cure your wanderlust for the week.

Railay Beach

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

And just a little side note that I had to share. A friend recently told me about this site that helps with jet lag! You enter in all of your flight details and it shows you the best sleep schedule to help fight that pesky jet lag. I wish I had this website this summer when we visited the states and I spent most of the two weeks on a weird sleep schedule! 

That Time I Tried to Snowboard

I'm not athletic. Shocker. I never did sports long term growing up even though I tried handfuls of them. Instead, I stuck to less physically dangerous and socially humiliating activities. But even though I'm not the best at sports, I love to be outside and active. I love kayaking, scuba diving and running (sometimes). With that being said, there are just some things are not for me and my athletically challenged body. Take for instance, snowboarding. Hubs loves it, and really wants me to love it too so we can go together. And just for that cuteness factor I have tried it out once before and told him that I would continue to try until I spent more time riding than falling. So, this last weekend we headed up to the near mountain of Muju to enjoy a weekend with friends and for me to attempt to board again. Even though the last time I tried boarding didn't go so great (maybe bruises and pain are just a given?) I was determined to try again. Try again I did but I didn't quite make it to the succeed part. Almost to the end of the hill on my first run, I fell so hard on my lower back that I had all the symptoms of a concussion (headache, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness) not to mention not being able to walk upright which pretty much made it look like I had to pee really bad. So I was officially out for the next two days. I'm honestly really bummed that I couldn't be up there on the slopes with hubs but at the same time I'm glad that he was able to go a lot without me holding him back. Because let's face it, I'm a slow learner. Obviously. But I'm also thankful that I literally had to push him out the door in order to go back and snowboard without me. He's a keeper.

The group minus me because I was back at the room resting my bum

Rental gear. Don't like the color? Choose another from the HUNDREDS of options!

Our friend found us a pretty great place to stay at too. Tucked on the side of one of the many mountains is Ecoville. A series of wooden loft condos complete with kitchens, balconies, and great views of the the surrounding mountaintops. We crammed seven people into this one bed getaway but thankfully there were plenty of extra floor mats (got to love Korean style) and blankets to go around. If you're planning a trip up to Muju, I would highly recommend this place which even includes a cozy great room with a large fireplace to de-thaw after a day on the slopes. The manager there is also quite possibly one of the nicest managers I have ever met in Korea. His English is excellent and he loves to strike up a conversation with anyone who walks through the door. It's a great place to stay whether you're wanting to be action packed for the weekend or prefer a romantic getaway.

Oh and even though I got banged up pretty bad (this is my opinion since I'm a woos when it comes to injuries) I really want to go try again. Maybe I'll always have the eight year olds passing me on the slopes and I'll always walk away with bruises and ego scars but for the minute or so that I actually know what I'm doing, it's pretty fun.

Linking up with Molly and Brooke

Off for a visit to Jekyll Island

After having the home nurse and the physical therapist visit me yesterday, I was pretty worn out.  The physical therapist came again this morning and put me through my paces.  She was done by about 9:00, and Kurt and I were getting a bit of cabin fever from being stuck in side for a couple of days.  We decided to make a visit to Jekyll Island on the coast.

It was too cold and windy to enjoy the beaches, but we were finally able to find the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.  I’m not able yet to walk around the Jekyll Island historic district, but I thought I could manage getting to the center. 

Not many people, I’d guess, take the time to read the bricks along the path, but using a walker, I had plenty of opportunity to do so.  I got a kick out of these two border bricks.  Kemp’s Ridley is the name of an endangered sea turtle, but Olive Ridley??    (Kemp’s wife??)

                                               Then I came upon a brick that fit me to a ‘T’. 

There are many displays and interactive activities for young and old that educate folks to the plight of the sea turtles.  Having participated in the turtle watch program at Pea Island my first time there, I found it all very interesting.  We were also able to attend a program that explained the winter hazards to sea turtles when cold snaps happen.  Since sea turtles are cold blooded, when the ocean gets cold their body temp goes down and they are unable to eat. 

Many of these sickly turtles are gathered up north along the coast, and sent to facilities like this one for rehabilitation.  The surgery area of the center is pictured above on the bottom right.  In the last two months, around 200 turtles have been gathered and treated at similar facilities.

The part of the visit I enjoyed the most was going through the turtle hospital where a number of turtles were being rehabilitated.  The temperature of the water in the pools is raised about five degrees daily with the turtles in them until the ideal temperature of 70-75 degrees is attained.  At that point, the turtles are able to begin eating again.  At the lower temps, the immune systems of the turtles are also compromised, so the turtles are also treated with antibiotics to ward off infections.  Eventually, almost all will be released back into the wild.

It was a great day trip to get us out of the rig, and to learn something new.  If you find yourself on the Georgia coast south of Savannah, I’d recommend a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.  I, of course, had to buy a tee shirt to add to my collection and to support the work of the center.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

Letters/39

Top of Mt. Muju

Dear Ski Trip, even though I got hurt on my first time down the mountain, you still turned out to be a great time. Even if it meant that I walked like I had a blunt object stuck up my rear for the rest of the weekend. Attractive huh? Dear Fear, watching The Impossible and Tsunami: Caught on Tape (includes real footage and interviews with survivors) weeks before I go to Thailand is not the best idea. But in the comforting words of hubs: 'natural disasters can happen any place and anytime.' Thanks for the reminder love. Dear Mom and Dad, please don't watch aforementioned movies until after we're back from Thailand next month. It will be better for both of us. Dear Compassion, after watching the mentioned documentary, I was blown away at people's selflessness, courage and compassion in the midst of a tragedy. People helped perfect strangers, went out of their way to make sure they were ok, and sometimes endangered their life trying to help others. There is, in fact, still good in this world. Let us never forget that. Dear Asia, I love you and your affordable tailors. Two shorts, pants and a shirt tailored for under $25? Don't mind if I do.

Linking up with Ashley and Lauren

P.S. Want a way to cure that wanderlust of yours? Don't forget to enter Daryl's huge giveaway on her blog! One lucky winner will get $500 to put towards any travel adventure!