Epihpanies and Illiopsoas Muscles

Blahhhh! After 12 years in classes of some sort or another, 5 different majors, 4 different schools, a million headaches and frustrations balancing full time work, full time kids, full time school and full time emotional basketcase, I just received a passing grade on my last critical assignment before I graduate on May 11th. I know bachelors degrees are run of the mill these days, and honestly, it represents $50K in debt more than success or the garauntee of a good job, but still, hey, I did it. I cannot tell you the relief I feel. I am not sure that if I hadn't had Josh here for the last few terms, pushing me and buying in 100%, that I wouldn't have quit just before the finish line. I was pretty burnt out. So I guess I have to give him credit. At least part. :)

I am so excited. To not have school. To find some work I like (after the summer). To move. To feel better. To be less... miserable.

I saw a chiropractor the other day who adjusted my back (I had 4 ribs out and he called my lumbar a 2nd grade strain) but what was really cool was the physical therapist he works with called me out on my Psoas Muscle, the hip flexor that attaches near the lumbar/thorassic transition and winds through the abdomen/pelvic cavity and attaches at the top of the inside of the femur. Referred pain from a damaged illiopsoas can be felt in the lower back and LOW PELVIS, for men, even testicularly. What if all this ouch down there on the left side is a pulled or torn muscle that I have been abusing? It makes sense with the activity induced pain. We shall see. I am going back for some more therapy, and have stretching and strengthening assignments. And MUST GET BACK TO YOGA!!!

It's hard for me to stay focused at work, partially because I am ADD and partially because I am ready to move on. I am absolutely amazed at the difference in my energy level - I have no idea what to attribute that to so I am going to give credit to the surgery. I actually WANT to do things. All kinds of things. Like running and skipping and things that are hard for me. We hiked up Pilot Butte last night. Not a huge mountain, but enough for me to be proud of! Today it's raining, which dulls my enthusiasm, but I will probably find something to do.

I am still off of sugar, dairy and grains. But I am counting the minutes to Saturday when I have decided to let cheese back into my life. What is Cinco De Mayo without cheese? Seriously? I. Can't. Wait. I have been fantasizing about chips and salsa and beans and rice for days.

Ok, I gotta go hook up a big trailer to a big truck to pick up a big tent for a big event this weekend. Wish I could just go shopping and meet some friends for lunch. Too bad you're all so far away!

Jolking and Dogs

Day 4 of my "cleanse" diet. I have cut out sugar, dairy and grains. I miss cheese. I don't really miss sugar - except every once in awhile the idea of a big chocolate cupcake completely preoccupies me. I got some good hiking in the other day when I had to go find a motorcycle racer with a broken wrist ------>.
 I felt like I really wasn't hurting from it, but today I am kinda rough. But that was on Sunday, so... Anyway, after a week I will probably allow cheese and yogurt. Maybe corn, that's the grain I most miss. Chips and Salsa...

I am kind of antsy, and want to start running - or jolking. That's a patent pending cross between jogging and walking. But I am afraid of the consequences. Today I will take Truck and Steve (I renamed Josh's dog from Emmy to Steve. I respect her more now.) for a walk and that will be consequence enough for a week. Truck is a bully on a leash and Steve just rides her brakes the whole way. Plus they both think they need to poop every three blocks, and I am not good at picking up poop. If I can find a way to justify not picking it up, I will. "oh, I don't have a bag! dangit!" "oh, it's in the weeds way off the road". Josh HATES this about me. I am one "of those" people. I am. I admit it. I will endure the shame if it means I don't have to pick up poop. It makes me throw up. No really, it does.

Maybe we will walk to Old Navy since there is incentive on the other end. Of course if I buy anything, a) I will have to carry it back and b) I will have a bag with which to pick up poop. Hmm. dilemma.

Other than my lower left pain, I am feeling great. Oh, and my back is hurting again, and my digestive system is still screwy, but I just ordered Dr. Mercola's NewStart Cleanse so I will let you know how that goes. I feel like I definitely need a restart. And I have a chiropractor appointment today in case it's an alignment issue contributing to the pain - that seems like too easy of a fix though.