Broken Ankle - Day 10

I have now made it over the hump and have [slightly] less than three weeks left before I can hopefully ditch the crutches/scooter. Two weeks and six days, to be precise.

Ever since I got home, my leg/ankle has been more sore, maybe just because I'm more aware of it since I'm not on vacation, or maybe because I haven't been elevating it as much. Or maybe both. It's mostly my foot and leg that hurt, rather than my ankle; I think the heavy boot might be contributing.

I feel kind of gross because I haven't been showering regularly since I need Derek's help to do so since it's difficult, and I also haven't been outside today yet because it was still cloudy when I usually have been taking my vitamin D break in the afternoon. Also, the kitchen is really gross since it's hard for me to clean up. I was a afraid I nearly hurt my ankle more this morning because the refrigerator was disorganized now and stuff was falling out of it when I opened the door.

Spent some time daydreaming about potential weekend breaks for our anniversary, which would come right after I get the boot off in September. Hopefully, Coronavirus will have decreased by then and there would be somewhere fun to go.

So not really any new developments to report today.

Broken Ankle - Day Nine

I know that in the grand scheme of things, especially in terms of recent worldwide events, a broken ankle is super minor. But my god, it's frustrating me.

I found an old lady who documented the days of her broken ankle progression online, and I thought I might do so too, maybe to make myself feel better. And hey, I get to practice writing, which aside from writing for work, I never do.

So here I am, at day nine of a broken ankle. I just got home yesterday from a really nice long weekend getaway at Wallowa Lake. Here's the view from the living room. Pretty nice, huh?

The first few days with the ankle, I was at home and using crutches, which was miserable. Then my husband rented a knee scooter for me, but I didn't start really using it until the morning we were leaving for Wallowa Lake. I felt pretty proud of myself that I was able to make my own breakfast and tidy up the kitchen that morning. I also figured out an easier way to get out of the house by hopping down the porch steps and then using the scooter through my neighbor's yard and down their driveway. (Getting back up the porch steps yesterday when I got home was quite another matter, unfortunately--I gave up and crawled. Humiliating.)

But during my mini-break last weekend, I was able to do everything with my knee scooter except go to the beach. I even scooted around a few blocked of Joseph's main street. So the trip was great, and wished I didn't have to go home. That weekend, when I took off my boot-cast for a shower, my ankle and foot were looking a bit better--less swollen. And the scab on my other knee with healing and starting to fall off, so that's a good sign too.

Once I got home last night, I felt very grumpy that I was now subject to the narrow hallways, hairpin turns, and tiny rooms of my home that are much more difficult to maneuver a scooter through than the spacious open floor plan of the vacation home, but I am getting used to it this morning. I am trying to be less grumpy today. The weather is really good, and I can sit on the deck in the sun, at least. Twenty-two days until my follow-up appointment, where I get a new x-ray, and hopefully the doctor will say I'm done with crutches/scooter and that I can put weight on the booted foot.

Here's a photo of Hell's Canyon, which I was able to see, in spite of the boot.

I'm Back and Have a New Rule

I have not posted on this blog since 2012 (I think). Whatever the date, it's been a VERY long time. But anyway, due to today's unfortunate, or thinking positively, mixed bag of events today, I am now going to post every single picture I take that possibly has any value to the internet from now one.

Why? What is the unfortunate side of today's mixed bag of events? My 2008 Macbook died. And not just in one one way--no--this sucker had multiple organ failure. But the organ I am most concerned with is the hard drive. At the Mac Store, after removing the hard drive from the [now] mere shell of what my computer used to be, they hooked it up to another device and a computer, to see if they could pull the data from it. Prognosis negative.

The hard drive spun, but the data could not be read. Maybe some other place could do it, and I will definitely investigate these avenues, but it's going to cost me a minimum of $200. Great. Wish me luck with this endeavor, because I fear I will need it.

You might be wondering why I am so concerned about recovering old essays, accounting homework, and law school notes I will never read again. Well, I'm not. But I WANT MY PHOTOS BACK!!! Many are stored on various places online, but not all, and I want them all back! Argh. Very upsetting. If I had made an online album of every single photo I've taken that was of even the slightest bit of value, I would not be in this situation now. But alas, I didn't. So from now on, that is precisely what I will do: backup my goddamn photos to the internet so no matter what my computer, phone, or camera decides to do, the photos will be accessible anywhere.

Now for the positive side of the mixed bag: I went out and bought a MacBook Air. It's pretty cool. No constantly whirring fans, it's fast, has up-to-date software, and the keys light up (ooh, fancy!).

So I have just now uploaded 195 photos to Flickr this very moment. So that's 195 fewer photos to lose when this computer kicks the bucket in a few years (better last a loooong time--this stinker was expensive!).

So here's a nice one that is saved on teh internets 4eva:

Hanoi  yo

Too Much for Saturday (in a good way)

There were too many fun things to do Saturday; we tried to make it to all of them, but didn't quite. Warm, sunny day, and the first stop was the Portland Highland Games. A one-day event, and $20 per ticket, we almost didn't go. But we did, and I definitely got $20 worth of entertainment out of it: a little Scottish food (sausage rolls, beer, Tipsy Laird, etc.--no Haggis though!) pipe bands, other Scottish musicians, vendors catering to the shopping whims of anyone who might have a smidge of Scottish heritage that day, and best of all, the Caber Toss. Strong men with too much time on their hands try to run with a huge 150-pound log, and then, when that gets to be too much, they try to throw it. Not sure how they judge it, aside from maybe who can run the farthest with it, but it's fun to watch. Also, I saw my friends Annie, Corey, and Sarah there.
OK, that was in Gresham. Next event is in St. Johns, or so I thought. We drive all the way across town to attend a barbecue that I thought was in St. Johns. Once we're in the vicinity, I turn on the navigation on my phone, only to discover that the barbecue was, in fact, behind us in Kenton. Oops. So we stop for tacos at Taqueria Santa Cruz, and walk down to the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. Drink some wine, relax, and then the mosquitoes come out. Time to leave. Maybe we can still make it to the barbecue? Maybe.
By the time we get back to the Kenton area, it's 9:30, and I'm guessing it's too late: the barbecue started at 4:00.
Time to go home. Fun Saturday.

Beckham!

David Beckham is in the center of the photo, #23.

Saturday, we had dinner at the Kells Pub on NW 21st, and then went to the Timbers versus Galaxy match. It was an all-around great night, due to the following events:

• We took the bus to the match, and it was easy! It was convenient! The stop is 2 blocks from our house. I'm so glad to have the option again to take the bus places, because my last home didn't have much in the way of bus services--none at all on the weekends, in fact.
• The new Kells is fun, and I had the best Shepherd's pie, possibly ever, there. Good whiskey-based cocktails too. 
• At the match, I got to see David Beckham score 2 goals in short order! Yeah! Beckham! It's like "Footballers' Wives" live! The Timbers lost, but that's too be expected (sorry Timbers Army). Also, Derek got me a cool Timbers t-shirt.

 

Finally

• Derek came home smiling tonight--always a good thing.
• Had a great evening: cooked a very nice Greek-themed dinner, watched the Timbers game (they won!), and walked up to Mount Tabor.
• Discovered a little cafe a few blocks from our house nestled in at the very end of Belmont at the foot of Mount Tabor.
• Can sleep in tomorrow.

Moving is Rough

Derek and I have been moving all of our excessive crap over the last two weeks, and it's been rough. Tired and grumpy. But it's over now. We just need to unpack everything, and it's coming along. So I'm finally back to the blog. Here's the day's roundup of pleasantness:

• Seeing Erik Spoelstra today across the street from my office when I was coming back from lunch. 
• The kitchen is almost entirely unpacked and ready.
• I can now go straight home after work instead of running to my old house, packing up the car with old stuff, and getting exhausted.
• I'm going to bed imminently.

Big Day Today

• We get the keys to our new place tomorrow morning at 8! Yay!
• I suddenly have a bunch of opportunities. Who knows if they'll pan out, but at least there's something to hope for.
• I got an A again in accounting this term. I'm taking it again next term. I'll have a second bachelor's degree in no time--this time a BS. But if you ask people who know me, they think I already have BS. Heh.
• Saw an old friend randomly on the street. That was nice. And since I have so much going on lately, I actually had something to talk about.

Monday

• My shelves are almost all packed, thanks to my parents.
• It was warm today.
• I washed my french press, so it's ready for me tomorrow.
• I will have time tonight to watch TV or read a book before bed.

Food, Friends, & Fun (Oh wait, that's the old McDonald's Slogan)

• Saw a friend I hadn't seen in years tonight.
• Tried a new restaurant that I've been wanting to for quite a while. (It was pretty good, but not all I hoped, but that's OK, because now I know.)
• Wandered around 1st Thursday a little bit. 
• The weather dried up for my evening outing!

OK

• I started off all excited and motivated this morning...but then it wore off. But at least I started off that way, right?
• I made a good dinner: kale & pecorino crostini and panfried tilapia. Served with a nice Italian white, of course.
• I got my $125 free money from Chase for opening a checking account with them. Yay!
• "French Fields" is a very funny Britcom from 1989 about an English couple who move to France on a whim when the accountant husband gets offered a job there. I found it at the library, and have been watching an episode or two every evening. Very enjoyable.

I Remembered!

• My friend got a new car! Actually, it's his first car ever, and I'm really excited for him! It's an Acura TL. Sporty!
• I sat down and worked on the cover letter and my resume. Now I can goof off and watch TV.
• Three years ago today, Derek and I went on our first date. He chose the place, and I thought at the time that it was a good sign that he picked Le Happy, since it was a place I already went to and enjoyed. I got there first, and when he walked in I thought: "Yay! This guy is cute! Finally!" (I had been on several first dates with guys that were NOT cute in person.) We chatted, ate crepes, and decided to go on to another bar--ended up being Muu-Muu's, and some crazy guy sat down at our table outside and started talking to us. Derek walked me back to my car, and kissed me goodnight (yes, that's right a kiss on the first date!). I instantly wanted to see him again. I guess it worked out so far. :)

Yeah, Yeah, I Totally Forgot Again

So, considering all the stuff going on, I really forget about this. But here's the latest:

• Fantastic SE Asian dinner last weekend: Cambodian chicken noodle soup (to put it mildly) cooked by Derek, and Vietnamese cabbage salad from me. It was a hot, spicy evening. ;)
• Keys on the 15th (or have I already mentioned that?), moving on the 16th, and the kitties on the 17th. Derek will come a little later.
• Escape from New York pizza, Manhattans, and Mad Men tonight. The taste of that pizza reminds me of when I lived off of NW 23rd. I was super angsty then, but it really was the best time ever. Lots of money (relatively speaking), boys, friends, going out, and acquiring fancy new things during that time. I hope that my new place will acquire certain flavors associated with it that make me just as happy.

Hippie?

[Photograph: Heidi Swanson]

• Did an hour of yoga again today (unfortunately got interrupted 3 times, but it's better than nothing).
• Made a super delicious dinner of Pan-Fried Tempeh with Mung Beans from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day. Really, really good. And healthy. I'm looking forward to the leftovers tomorrow.
• Got all the move-in date stuff settled. June 15th we sign the rental agreement and get the keys. 
• Warm in a pleasant, muggy kind of way when I left work tonight.

Take 3

Yes, I'm trying this again. Listing at least three good things that happened today. It sounds trite. Whatevs. I think it's good for me. Here goes:

• My San Diego sunburn is turning into quite the nice tan, especially on my face. I look healthy.
• I got home on time, did an hour of yoga, cooked dinner, cleaned up from dinner, and made my lunch for tomorrow. I like feeling on top of things.
• It's supposed to be 77 tomorrow.
• My photos from the trip turned out quite nice (see above).

I remembered again

• Warm, sunny day finally.
• Fun afternoon and evening with Derek at Chinese Garden, dinner at Ping, and then Blazer and Timbers games on TV.
• Washing feather pillows in the washing machine turned out fine.
• Got registered into the online accounting class for the term.

This Week

I slacked this week. Honestly, I just wasn't feeling it. But I'm trying to feel it dammit, so here goes:

• Boyfriend is extremely patient about me being tired and low most of the time lately.
• I got farm-fresh eggs from a coworker today.
• I'm going to make this for dinner tonight.
• Snow is still pretty, even when it's March.
• Tomorrow is Friday.

Weekend Combo

• Seats in perfect view of the TV for the Timbers game at Blitz (yesterday)
• I made a perfect apple crisp today
• Relaxing, dozy afternoon

Yeah, I skipped yesterday...

even though I went out with my friends and had a good time.

• Japanese crepes (yesterday)
• Hanging out with friends (yesterday)
• Grandpa's Cafe (Polish restaurant, with lots of Polish speakers!) (tonight)
• Brackets!
• Friendly people at Maui's (tonight)
• After all the upheaval yesterday, the Blazers won tonight against the Bulls, who are the #1 team in the East.

Work, Mostly

• A coworker gave me a thank you card saying she appreciates all the help I'm giving everyone, and that if I wasn't there, they would be buried under work.
• A supervisor was impressed with all the attention to detail I was showing while doing a mailing, fishing out all the recipients with undeliverable addresses. I guess other temps wouldn't have cared if they were correct or not. Bonus points for me, hopefully, when I'm able to apply for a permanent position.
• I had lots of time to read "The Leopard" tonight.