Neti...what!?

Okay so this is called a "Neti Pot". You put warm salt water in it and then place it to one nostril (with your head tilted) and then the water goes up your nose and helps to clean your nasal cavity. I was very skeptical about the whole thing but was in a bit of pain from a nasty head cold that I wonderfully got last night. So I figured why not give it a try! Well I did...and it seems to have helped. I've done it a few times now. You definitely want a lot of Kleenex, and a big glass of water to drink after the process.

I heard about this crazy thing from my boss today at work, which she heard about it from Dr. Oz on the Oprah show. So I called Whole Foods to see if they still had some in stock. It's a good thing that I called and had them hold one for me because there were only three left! They said that since the show that they've been flying off the shelf. Not at all crazy, I mean it's on the Oprah show of course it's selling that well.

After all this fun I went down to the Plaza to meet up with Melissa to hang out and catch up. Dang was that so much fun, and so incredibly needed! Oh, and it's prom time, so there were a bunch of couples walking around and seriously what some of these girls were wearing...oh my! It took every ounce of self control not to laugh when walking by some of these girls. There was one dress that was so short that the girl was pulling it down in the back as she was walking so her butt wasn't showing...hello, don't wear it if you have to do that! Then there was the dress that looked like you were a gum drop...we saw many different colored gum drops while down there. Then there was my favorite...I don't even know how well I can describe it on here, but I literally started laughing the second after we passed the group of kids. It was a purple dress that came to about mid thigh, then blue poofy/netting/stuff to her feet...I could barely hold in my laughter. Who would let their friend wear that!? If I for some unknown reason decide to wear that dress...ever...hit me upside the head and knock some sense into me that I shouldn't! I so wish I had my camera with me so you could see what I'm talking about! Okay well that's all for now! Over and out!

Lo!

More pain!?

Well if it is possible, and I know it is, I am in more pain than I was before. Even more pain than I was with my other ankle. I am beyond frustrated and am not really sure what to do. I did an ice plunge tonight after I got home from work. (An ice plunge is where you submerge your injured extremity in ice and water for up to 7 minutes, but if you feel that it is starting to have a burning sensation take it out immediately. Then let the extremity warm back up on its own.) After the ice plunge, I elevated it for a while and then had a pineapple smoothie which is also supposed to help keep the swelling down. I also ended up putting Biofreeze on it to help with the pain. I'm trying really hard to keep from taking any medications but I had to give in today and take some ibuprofen and some naproxen sodium later in the evening.

What is really starting to scare me is that the race is now less than 6 weeks away and I am still unable to run, or really do any training for that matter. As much as I don't want to think about it, I almost have to at least consider not being able to run the race. That thought scares me to no end. I don't want to give up this goal, and feel that I'm giving up on so much more. I know that I wouldn't be giving up, just putting it off to another race, but in my mind the two can't be separated. It's a hard line to draw. I don't feel that it is just an easy decision to make. It will take some serious prayers and thoughts to figure out what I really should do. I'm going to see if I can move my chiropractor appointment up and see if there is anything that can be done to help. Ah, I'm just so upset and completely annoyed by the whole thing. I just want to be able to walk like a normal person again! Over and out.

Lo

PAIN!!!

UGH! Well it's exactly 6 weeks until the race, and I am down and out, again! I haven't been able to run for a week now, and don't plan to run until Monday at the earliest. I've been tracking the pain to see where its hurting exactly and what movement I am doing to create the pain. Much easier said than done for sure. It seems to be the same area that was in pain on my right ankle, so hopefully treatment will go fast being that we'll already know what to do. I think the problem is that I tried to run too much too fast. I guess at this point there isn't much I can really do beyond what I'm already doing. (Rest Ice Compression Elevation.) As you can guess I'm completely annoyed that I am unable to train and continue getting mentally prepared for the race as well. I can do my best to mentally train for the race without physically training, but it throws a few things off. I already plan on having to run through quite a bit of pain, and don't really plan on walking much after the race to rest my body as much as I can. We'll see how that all goes though! Over and out!

Lo

"Runners Ready!?"

Well it is now just over six weeks until the race! I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I have healed my right achilles tendon, and it really feels great now! Unfortunately my left one decided to do just about the same thing, only not nearly as bad. So I'm off my feet for a little longer than I had hoped. Either way I'm still running (or walking/crawling) the race! Plus I found out today from one of my classmates that both her and her husband signed up to run in the 5k! This would be exciting in general anyway, but it's even more exciting because they will be traveling up from KC just to run the race and hang out with my friends and family! Yes, you could say I'm completely excited about that!

I had a strange dream about the race over the weekend too, which really threw me off! I dreamt that there was only about a half a dozen people running the race and that it was literally just about freezing! Which the weather is crazy back home, but I highly doubt that it will be that cold the first weekend of June! I'll be sure to bring a variety of running apparel just in case of course! Hopefully I'll see lots of familiar faces along the race, and especially at the finish line! Over and out!

Lo!

The lid off my head...

I feel like I've been on a roller coaster the past month. A lot of twists and turns, with some huge drops, and some amazing peeks. I wish that there was some way that I didn't have to get on this thing, but that's life. I know that I'll eventually get off this coaster, and soon enough get on a different one. Maybe not as steep or with as many sudden drops, but I know that that's just how life goes. There has been some really amazing things that have taken place the past month, but even though they are so amazing, they are still taxing emotionally, especially when I'm already emotionally spent. Something that really stuck out to me at church today though I think really goes along with all of this. The pastor said, "Character rises to the top over time and under pressure." I couldn't agree more. It is during the times that we are under stress and in situations that our character is most displayed, and inspected. We can either choose to learn from the situations that we are in and take away as much as we can and mature in these situations; or throw a fit, whine and complain throughout the whole thing and really look like a big mess. I don't feel like I've been throwing a fit, but I don't know that I've been learning as much as I should through these situations either. I know that I still need to sort things out and move on with some of them. I know that some things are going to get more difficult before they get better, but I also know that I have some amazing friends in my life that are here for me; with support, love and prayer. For now though, I just need to keep my head up, and my feet pointed in the right direction. Over and out.

Lo

MT or DC!?

I have a lot running through my mind right now...One of these is whether I want to continue school after I finish Massage Therapy school in November. The huge possibility is going to school to become a Chiropractor (DC). This obviously would be a HUGE step, and is going to take a lot of prayer, thoughts, and consideration. I've already talked to my parents a little bit about it, and they're all for whatever I want to go for. If I want to stop after I receive my degree to be a CMT (Certified Massage Therapist) then they'll be proud of me, and excited for my new career...at the same time, they'd be thrilled if I want to continue on to finish my bachelors degree, and then on to chiropractor school. One of the big things is that there aren't a bunch of chiropractic schools. The closest one to home is in St. Louis, then KC, and one up in MN as well.

I've already filled out the admissions application for the school here in KC, but have been hesitant on whether or not to turn it in. It's not like anything would be set in stone if I sent it in, or anything, but its a huge thing for me to even be seriously considering this. One of my other thoughts is to finish my bachelors degree (really anything else I would have to finish my degree) and then go to school to become a Physical Therapist...or a Nutritionist...and the list goes on! I guess we'll see what happens in the next few months! Over and out!

Lo!

Master Piece...Finished!

If you go here check out the last five pictures of the album though you can see what has been keeping my occupied the last few days when I have free time!

It's a 30" x 40" canvas....

It took me...

11.5 hours to complete...

About 4 ounces of rubber cement...

One sheet of brown tissue paper...

Nine different colors of paint!

I'm so happy with the final product! I really think Erica and her husband will like it as well (which would really make me happy!)! We'll see how soon I make another one! Feel free to place orders! ;-)

Over and out!

Lo!