Wow, I'm sitting here on the couch when I should be leaving for work. My stomach is doing somersaults and my head feels weird. This actually started yesterday afternoon at the Accenture Golf Tournament. The morning started out as usual. I got up, had my coffee, had another cup but decaf this time, poured a mug of decaf to-go, ate a cinnamon bagel, left to go teach on the west-side, did teach, drank my coffee & a bottle of water. I & G,, my sis, then drove to the tournament. We stopped & I had a glass of wine, then we walked up to the final tent where I ate lunch, had another bottle of water then eventually ordered a cocktail. I remember telling G. that the wine seemed to "hit" me a bit. Pretty unusual for 1 small glass of wine to do that. Then around 12:30pm I started feeling "funny." I'm not sure how to describe it. My stomach was weird & I began to feel light-headed & faint. I stood up "cuz I was so uncomfortable, but that didn't make me feel better just different. G. felt my head and said I felt "clammy." Later she told me that I was really pale at that moment too.

We decided to walk over to the lavatories where she sisterly stated that she wasn't going to listen to me wretch, which I didn't do, but felt better having gotten a little fresher air, among other things. I came back to the table and was remarkably better. By the way, I had only had about 1/3 of my previously mentioned cocktail prior to the incident.

I have tried to think about what may have caused this and I thought it seemed alot like de-hydration but I had had quite abit of fluids and it should not have been the problem. It was an outdoor venue but we were under a huge tent out of the sun. The only time in the sun were 1) I taught my aqua class from 8:30-10am and walking to the venues. Nothing unusual.

Anyways, about an hour later I began to feel "weird" again but nowheres near like the 1st time. So, I just went & sat in a chair rather than a stool, away from the main floor and a little more open. I felt better. Eventually I went back to our table again and was better.

I also realized that there were alot of people in that tent and alot of cologne floating in the air. I get nauseous at work some times when everyone sprays their body sprays, spray-on sun screens & hairsprays in the locker room so maybe that was part of it. I dunno.

But when I woke up today and could feel my stomach nauseous again, I decided to call in and stay home. If I have a bug I don't want to pass it along to the others and if I get dizzy I rather be at home. I'm sure everyone at work would prefer me to stay home too.

Ok, well on to the surgery countdown. I have my class tomorrow for my surgery. I guess it'll tell me about the procedure, the aftercare, re-hab, what I can & can't do afterwards, etc. and answer any questions we may have about it all. My surgeon did say that in some instances it creates more questions though. I've already asked him quite a few questions but I'm sure I'll have more as the event gets closer. I've made my pre-op labs & EKG appoint. w/my primary care Dr. for next week, have my pre-op w/surgeon & intern set along with 2 post-op appointments. I only have 1 more appoint. to set and thats with the anesthesiologist. Good grief! I've never had to have a separate appoint. with 1 before. Oh well, best to be safe than sorry, I guess.

I've turned in all of my paperwork for FMLA, etc. for work as well as taken some paperwork to my surgeons office to be filled out for the leave of absence. Unbelievably, they charge $20.00 to fill out the paperwork. Seriously?!? So much BS to do for this. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! Yuck! Then there's more paperwork to come back to work. Yeeesh! I hate paperwork.

It's getting closer & closer and I can't wait. I'm looking forward to moving pain-free and getting my strength and body back. Ha-ha!

This last week we had 3 days of training on the TRX & Rip trainers. I love these things. Both of these pieces of equipment trainings were taught by Brandon Wagner, a Master Trainer for TRX and my friend.I think that both of these pieces will be an integral part of my self re-hab program. Between these and my Burdenko work, I should be back stronger, leaner and healthier than I've been in a long time. Someone told me that after this type of surgery you lose about 10-12#'s. So, hopefully that'll kickstart things & the workouts Oooops, re-habs, should keep it off and cause some more #'s to fall.
These pieces of equipment are both core based. Anyone is able to utilize them be you elite athlete to rank beginner. There are ways to increase and/or decrease the intensity because you're using your own bodyweight and suspension/resistance training. It's all about the core stalization. If you break alignment you've gone too far.

With the TRX suspension trainer, pictured above, the operational position is the plank. You break basic plank position you've lost integrity. Very simple. No need for tricks & gimmicks. It's all you. Got it? Good. give it a try, you'll get 1 heck of a workout and push your boundaries and feel great about it.

Now as for cooking this last week, yes I did some. I roasted some pork chops and some chicken legs. I used some canola oil on both and with the chops I used Buck & Judy's Dang Rub #12 and the legs got #9 sprinkled on them as a seasoning just before cooking. Both of these turned out delicious. For the chops I also added a honey-mustard sauce. "Sauce-of-Gold" with a little pepper & rosemary, but the chicken legs I've added 0 sauce of any kind. They're so good with nothing else added. The skin is brown and crispy, the meat moist. Uh, nothing needed. Yum, yum, yum. Here's the website info again for the rubs. www.dangrubs.com

The Olympics are almost over and the games were not marred by terrorism, thank goodness. A great tribute to the amazing athletes who've worked so hard for so long to represent their countries and their sports. Congratulations to all of you, medal or not, to get to this class of excellence. Welcome home.

Peace out ya'll

Oh my goodness, and believe me I was using much stronger language over the last few weeks. All of my computerized gadgets went berserk on me but good. I was so ready to give them all my way of fixing them. (By the way, that would be opening up a window and throwing them as far as possible). Sometimes I really hate all of these things, my "smart" phone, laptop and pc. Aghhhhhhhhhhhh!

I've never claimed to be a computer "geek" but this was really a mess. When the computer guys came I even had to show them how I opened the cd/dvd compartment on the pc. One of them had asked for a paperclip to try to open it. Well, why go through that, I just pressed the button and socked the the top of the tower and VOILA!  The look on both their faces was priceless. Still makes me chuckle just thinking about it. Anyways, the laptop is working beautifully and I'm putting the pc out to pasture. Actually, I'm going to take it to a store that re-cycles computers. One of the guys has taken the hard drive from the pc to try to retrieve my pictures, etc. form  it. Ooooh! He just called and said he was able to get them. Yah! Pictures from vacations, Oreo, dances, etc. I'm so happy. I'll get those back on Sunday/

Now, I'm not quite sure what happened to my phone but I looked at my bedroom clock 1 morning and then picked up my phone and it was 2 hours behind. That alone had me vexed but I decided to correct the time and it was on mountain time. That's when I saw the date, which was some or other month and day but the year was 1980. 1980, what the hell? Well, I fixed that and now I'm back together. What a freaky couple of weeks. Explains why I couldn't get some apps to open on the thing since in 1980 the cell phone was the size of a brick. That's why I hadn't blogged. I couldn't open it up.

Now I can finish my taxes, programs for clients and get back to my weekly blogging. Yipppeeee! Let's just hope & pray that there are no glitches while I'm getting my knee replaced.

5 weeks and counting 'til I become semi-bionic. I'm truly getting excited. I've begun the paperwork for my leave of absence at work, scheduled my class re; the operation and still waiting to get the notification re; pre-surgery things to do. Something to do with the anesthesia and something else, called my dentist 'cuz I have a teeth cleaning appointment scheduled in April and they can't do it the same way because of the surgery, have about 1 more minute left to choreograph for my bellydance piece being performed in May. Whew.

Speaking of my dance piece, I had all 5 ladies at the same time this week and they're all up to speed and they looked fantastic. I can't wait to finish it, get the costumes and see it. I'm sure I'll be crying at the recital. All of the gals really seem excited about the piece too. That makes me very,very happy.

Sometimes facebook makes me nuts. At least when folks just keep posting stupid stuff. You know what I mean, all of the nonsense. However, it does allow you to suddenly be in contact with people you haven't seen or thought of in decades. Well, that's what happened to me. A gal I knew back in my 1st round of college found me via a neighbor of hers who was also a college friend of mine. Small bloody world again. So cool when this happens. She was also in the PE dept. and emphasized in dance. We'd had 1 project together. Unbelievable. This was a treat.

The workout/wellness accountability challenge has kinda fallen off. Trying to keep track of points earned, points lost, turning in of sheets, etc. just got to everyone and we've let it go. It was a good idea but too frustrating and made everyone a little stressed. Yeah, I need more stress right now. Oh well, maybe next year and not so involved.

At least next year I should be moving at full strength again. MAN, I can't wait. I know it'll be awhile to regain my stamina as well as my strength but it'll sure feel great to be taking breaks due to lack of endurance rather than my knee blowing up like a balloon and snappin' & cracklin' like a bowl of Rice Crispies. I want to take ballet, jazz, west-African and Afro-Brazilian as well as bellydance. Lookout Tucson, I'm comin'. Let's face it, I want to dance!

2 of my co-workers and friends (1 being my best friend out here) have left me. So, with all of the drama with the electronics and them leaving work and Tucson, I've been a bit depressed. The day D. left I cried 5 times. I'm happy for them but as for me, it sucks. They're both off to try new things and I do applaud them for their courage. But...for me, it sucks. I miss them both and look forward to seeing them again. I wish you both all of the best in your new lives.

So, as you can read, the last few weeks have been a nightmare for me. But all is back on track, now. I'll finish my taxes this weekend, send 'em off and anxiously await their return.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Peace out & be healthy.