...and now we're cha-cha'ing.
I can’t concentrate too well right now, so I can’t complete my T13 post.
I know. I suck.
Instead, here’s my adventures of the past few days:
Friday was my second round of physical therapy. I expected to be a bit sore after my first PT session, but no - I was fine, I was actually feeling a bit of improvement. (And I learned that my chiropractor - Herr Doktor Pain - gave me incorrect information, and that yes I could damn well use a heating pad.) My second therapy session was less pleasant. The therapist started working directly on the muscles in my hip and thigh…and OW OW OW THEY WERE UNHAPPY!! My left hip and thigh muscles had tightened up quite a bit to keep my sciatic nerve from being pressed when I walked, so for the past two weeks I’ve been lurching about in lopsidedly - I’ve been mobile, but now those muscles are taut as cables and pissy as wet cats. Bleah. I made a trip to my post office box afterward, determined to pick up all the mail that’s been building up for a month. All my merchandise credits were there, as well as my new insurance cards. I was reminded that the plan I chose has a $2400 annual deductible…and a therapy session costs about $250. I shall be making a good dent in that annual deductible, I think… (And, of course, the day after my COBRA expired, I received my COBRA card. Typical. COBRA sucks swamp water.)
Even after the therapy, I was feeling optomistic enough to try going to S.F. on Saturday to help with the AIDS Lifecycle registration. I’d volunteered several months ago, but when my back was still acting up mid-May, I was concerned that I’d have to cancel altogether. Last night I packed, and this morning I popped two Tylenol and drove up to the Cow Palace. There were some mild twinges while we were all waiting around for the registration lines to actually open; but once I got to answering questions and making sure that people were in the right (hideously long) lines, things seemed to go quite a bit better. I recognized many of the staffers from last year, and the cyclist I’ve sponsored for three years was there. He caught my attention as I was walking the (hideously long) line of people waiting to register. At one point his friend took a photo of us, but I was a bit mazed. (I’ll have to send an email apologizing profusely. I did give him a hug, but I think I may have left a bit abruptly.) I ended my shift a tad early, since my replacement showed up early; and checked into the hotel. The bed was nearly rock-hard. This did not seem like a good sign. I lay down for a nap, though, after taking one Aleve. I woke up about an hour later with cramps in my calves and left thigh…a subtle warning that if I pushed it, I’d be paying for days. I took one Naproxen, drove home, took a Vicodin and slathered on some IcyHot, and napped for about an hour. I don’t have the muscle cramps any more, but I’m a bit stiff and sore. I won’t be able to see everyone off tomorrow. (Dang!!) The photo below is JC, third-year participant and first-year team leader, with his newly-shaved head. He raised over $10,000 this year, and had vowed that if he surpassed that mark, he’d shave his head. When I saw him earlier today (Saturday) I joked to him that he’d do anything to cut his wind resistance :D
I do plan to send messages of support throughout the ride, though. Want to help? Just go here type in JC’s cyclist number (1161) or any cyclist’s number, and thank them for their efforts to raise money for AIDS education and services. This year’s ride raised over $11 million, and there are a record-breaking number of riders participating!!! Okay, that’s enough for today. I have to make dinner, then go take my evening meds and rest.
Keywords: | health | community | activism |
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