I Miss You Running

"Your suffering is not pointless.

There is a better you ahead."

-via Jenny Simpson's twitter account

Mondays at PT

I've been going to physical therapy for a few weeks now. My knee is feeling much better and I've gotten back my full range of motion. But I've still be going so I can strength my hips and quads prior to surgery. Diane, my PT, is so amazing and nice--I love going just to see her. And forcing myself go actually makes me do my exercises correctly. Today Diane said I could hike and bike and do yoga and most activities (except soccer and basketball and tennis). But the most amazing part is that she said I could potentially run on the treadmill next week. Hallelujah! I'm pumped.

Afternoon Bike Ride

So I'm finally off the crutches (it's been a week or two) and I'm cleared to ride my bike. It's amazing to not have to rely on anyone else anymore to get me places. I wasn't feeling productive at all today and needed to clear my head. So I went for an afternoon ride. I've actually never rode in Tucson for leisure before. I was so happy. It was a gorgeous day and the mountains were beautiful. The sky was bright blue. I felt amazing. I'm going to make this a thing now that I can't run. I can't put how wonderful it was into words.

23rd Birthday

I don't think I could have asked for a better birthday. My friends Karla and Amy surprised me with cupcakes and brownies and a card signed by all the 1st year graduate students. My homework was easy. And I went to Quizzo, like every Wednesday, with good people. I may or may not have yelled a few answers out and might have been on the verge of being banned. But at the end of the day, I felt so happy to have friends here in Arizona that were willing to celebrate with me.

On Arizona and On My Birthday

So it's been a year since I visited Arizona for the first time. That trip almost solidified my choice in grad schools. The weather was perfect, everyone was supportive and friendly, and the program matched my interests exactly. It didn't hurt that I had an awesome burger for lunch and the restaurant was playing my kind if music. So it's been a year and oh what a year.

I've talked to my friend Karla about this. As hard as it is, we're glad we are struggling but surviving here. There's no place I'd rather be. And I was talking to Dan the other day about something a year ago and he said, "Who would have thought you'd make it?" Of course he said himself but I never imagined myself here. 

22 had a lot of ups and down. But 23 is going to be better, I know it. I'm letting things go and moving on. I have a good friend base who I trust and confide in. It's going to be tough but it always works out. So here's to 23. Another year older and wiser. 

Spring Break with Mom: Day 3

The final day with Mom consisted of me waking up late (of course) and heading to University for brunch at Pasco--really good breakfast nachos. After brunch, we headed to the Mall (aka the Quad) for the book festival that Tucson holds every year. My first reaction was that there were too many people. And I was super hot crutching around the whole time. But it was fascinating to see all the vendors and BOOKS. While the National Parks tent made me a little sad because I won't be able to hike for a while with my ACL, I felt better after getting a free poster of Lake Mead and some postcards. Who said money ($1.50) can't buy happiness?

Spring Break with Mom: Day 2

So I finally got to see Taliesin West, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs that is up in Scottsdale. It's gorgeous--like all his others. But the settings are so different from the Robie House in Chicago and Fallingwater out near Pittsburgh. Taliesin is (relatively) in the middle of the desert. While you can see telephone poles and houses from the property (which Mr. Wright didn't want), it was still stunning to see the mountains rising up behind the house and imagining all the critters entering his office during the summer months (they left for Wisconsin in the summers). Gorgeous.

Spring Break with Mom: Day 1

 

So when Mom comes out to Tucson, it usually means two things: eating out and shopping. So our first day was naturally filled with eating out, shopping, and even food shopping (gasp). Lunch was at Maynards--really good (see above). We drove to A-Mountain and my mom didn't even get out of the car when we reached the top--that's the best part compared to hairy one-lane drive up and down. We finally made it to the Tucson outlets that afternoon. We went in the Fall, we were early--they opened the next week. While she didn't join us for karaoke on Thursday night, my mom did take me and some friends out to dinner. As usual, they liked her more than me. But day one was still filled with good food and good times and I even got to watch TV.