The Beauty of the Beach

The house I'm in is literally across the street from the beach- if it's a 5 minute walk it's because you're probably wearing a brace and walking kind of gimpy.

We went today and it was BEAUTIFUL. Due to overcast skies the beach was completely deserted. There was a mist out on the water so you could only see about 15 feet out and it made the air slightly muggy and thick. I've never been to a completely empty beach during a warm day in June. It was awesome.

I just get such a high from being on the beach and near the ocean. I was shouting with joy every time the waves crested and the water hit our feet.

Why don't I live near the ocean?

It's as great as they say it is

This is my third summer in NYC but my first time out to the Hamptons. I took the "Hampton Jitney" today, bringing to mind some random SITC episode where Carrie took the same bus out for a week at some 'share'. My friend of a friend picked me up and brought us back to our fabulous beach house to not share.

They rented the house for June. ($20,000 for the month of June- but before you lose your mind- that's a steal compared to the $65,000 it is for July!) My own stay started out as a week in the sun, and its now whittled down to a few hours stolen by the pool...but every hour is worth it to make the trek out.

The air just feels fresh. I've already killed three little creepy crawly things roaming about the house (because they have NATURE out here!) and I can see the ocean literally a block away.

I will be doing conference calls in the sun tomorrow and LOVING every second.

Thank you kind sir

One of the things that has struck me over the last 6 weeks is how kind people can be. Opening doors, asking how I am (perfect strangers expressing concern) and the like. A perfect example is what occurred last week.

It was Thursday morning and the temperature was about 534C - a bazillion degrees roughly. I stood on the street in the middle- in an open area so there were no cars or delivery trucks blocking my way. I waited for about 15 minutes and there were no cabs anywhere. Everyone was avoiding the hot as hell subway and splurging for a cab (I'm not joking- it was HOT).

There were a few people in front of me and they got some cabs. And that's fair- they were there at the same time or before me. I'm on crutches- not pregnant or 90- and I didn't mind waiting.

However after 15 minutes I was the last one standing and thinking the next cab was mine. A guy in a business suit steps up on the corner in front of me. He was older (50?) and overweight and probably sweltering in his cheap looking suit. I didn't care- he wasn't going to take my cab. I started to walk towards him to tell him to back off... and then suddenly a cab driving by just stopped.

The door swung open and a guy popped his head out. He looked at me and said "I think you need this cab more than I do. Why don't you take it?" And he paid his fare- and hopped out- waiting to close the door behind me.

SO KIND.

The Final Countdown

I started walking today. It felt weird. I will keep putting more weight on the leg over the course of the week and by NEXT FRIDAY I should be crutch free!!!!!

Oddly enough I'm actually slower with the walking... but I'm sure that will change.

Waves of Hawaii from Clark Little

My uncle just sent me these shots of waves in Hawaii. They are done by the photographer Clark Little who lays in wait in the water for the wave- and catches it 'from the inside out'.

Beautiful.

Dinner recommendations

If you're ever in NYC I will take you out to a restaurant called 'Stanton Social'. It's one of my favourites- a tapas place with DELICIOUS food.

And if that's not enough: the chef opened up a new place called "Beauty & Essex" on Essex street. And it's EVEN BETTER!

Again it's Tapas and a loungey- bar type feel. But it feels more open than SS- and the food AMAZING.

so let's go. gimme a call.

Progress Update

The good news: June 7 (if all goes well) I will no longer need to use the ice and continuous motion machine. (yay!)

The not as good news: I will still need crutches for another 2-3 weeks as I start physio therapy. (boo!)

The great news: I can go outside for more than 4 hrs/day. (yay again!)

My Monday Night

* Breath Again * Heaven * Nothing Compares to U * Against All Odds * I Will Always Love You * Broken Wings * It Must Have Been Love * I Can't Live If Living is Without You * Hard to Say I'm Sorry * Right Here Waiting * Ordinary World * I Want to Know What Love Is * Eleanor Rigby * End of the Road * Hello * Bittersweet Symphony * I miss you * Chasing Cars *

Lest people get the wrong idea- the song selection was courtesy of Youtube 'suggestions'. I picked the first song and the list was off and running. By the end of the run I felt like my 14/24 year old self had just been broken up with, even though I'm not even dating anyone.

And my 35 year old self was left lying listlessly on the couch thinking someone please get me some wine while I hit repeat...

This enforced solitary confinement really is NOT good for me...

Sometimes work = fun

For the most part I have a fun job. I work in advertising and while there are some challenges, it's not rocket science and we're not averting nuclear disasters. We sell mayonnaise and salad dressing. Not hopes and dreams... just little ways to make your meal better.

And also for the most part I work with a group of talented, fun and GOOD individuals. There are very few people on the team (including extended group) that I don't like.

Friday we had a big meeting, there were about 25 of us in the room, and we were presenting a BIG idea for a 2011 campaign. The team was pretty excited about the idea and had a new way of presenting the material. We kind of acted it out like a scripted consumer journey. It ended up being pretty funny but also a clear and clever way to present versus the old school powerpoint. I'd had a minor fear that it might be too casual... but then I remembered: Advertising- not nuclear science. Right.

Client loved it- it was smiles all around. It was a "Mad Men" moment where we almost broke out the cigars and whiskey. Except that it was 11am. And 2011. So... we all just went about our days...

But it was definitely a fun way to end out the week.

The epitome of lazy = the epitome of awesome

The shower chair. is. awesome.

As part of my post-surgery life I've had to purchase a chair for the bathtub as I can't stand in the shower on one leg, and I can't soak my leg in a tub. And I still need to be clean. Enter: The shower chair.

You sit while taking the shower. I'd never even entertained the thought before- but now that I've done it - it seems indispensable. No more long 15 minute stands while you're rinsing off. No more achy legs while you are "upright" first thing in the morning. You don't have to stand up to the shower- you bring the shower to you. On your terms.

It's so great. I think it'll be a permanent fixture even after I'm healed up and two legged again.

My knee in pictures

These are kind of gross- but I think they are cool. I'm fascinated by inner workings of our bodies. I stayed awake for the first half of the surgery (until the saw came out) and the surgeon talked me through all of the thing she was doing (scraping away and cleaning up the cartilage, breaking holes into the bone marrow to allow for blood to escape and form scar tissue etc... fun stuff!)

The first picture is the good side of my cartilage in the knee- looks all shiny and smooth: like an egg.

The second picture is the cartilage that has been ground down and looks more like crab meat that's been feathered/shredded.

There's another picture of cartilage missing. Boring. You can just imagine it.

Finally- here is an x-ray of the knee with the two screws in it. Those look like Philips pan head machine screws? Maybe? Maybe not.

'Jack Sparrow' fr The Lonely Island

I love these guys. Not sure how to get the video size to fit screen- but you can click on the link to youtube.



(just in case the embedded video doesn't show up- there's a link to the video)

http://youtu.be/GI6CfKcMhjY

My week in pictures

Prior to leaving for surgery my work family threw me a surprise party including balloons and flowers:


Upon arrival at my 'home away from home' at Elizka's house I was greeted with a beautifully made up room that included balloons and more flowers and butterflies hanging from the ceiling. Best welcome ever:


This is the "continuous motion machine" (there's another official name for it I'm sure) that I have to be strapped into 3x/day for 1.5 hours each time. Fun times:


Friday night my friend Charla was in town and we went for dinner at the wine bar at the base of my building. Actually got dressed up for the first time in 5 days. Even though it was only at the base of my building it was a bit aggressive for me to go out- and I'm now content to hold up in my apartment and have guests come to me:

A symphony of words in 3 parts.

A very talented friend of mine wrote me this haiku in honor of my knee surgery & journey back to complete physical perfection. I wanted to share it here:

Part Un. Dramatique

Doctor's fevered brow,
"Nurse, scapel, suction, please!"
"She's going to make it!"

Part deux. Denouement.

She rests peacefully.
Having cheated death once more.
Her hinge is now oiled.

Part trois. Reflection.

Sprinting through the park,
Woodland creatures approach her,
To share her sunshine.

Golden mane dancing
As the gentle breeze cools her
She is a vision.

Fin


Lor-you're AWESOME!!! xo

Post surgery love

I had my knee surgery on Friday and it went well. I was terrified of the post-surgery pain based on stories from various freinds & family but so far so good. Ive been good (!) about taking the percocet when prescribed and the trade off is that I'm just existing in a slightly nausea filled sleepy haze. Like I said- so far so good.

I can't do any physio therapy until the bone heals which is about 6 weeks. But I do have to use this continuous motion machine for 1.5hrs 3x a day. It basically moves my knee for me. Picture to come when I'm not using n iPad.

I also have to use an ice machine 6-8 times a day for 30min. And I have to practice walking around on my crutches every hour.
I'd kind of thought this whole recovery thing would be a cake walk with my friends catering to my every whim but no such luck.

But the catering part is true. I have some amazing friends who have been taking fantastic care of me since I came home from the hospital.
My work family sent me some flowers & cupcakes. My friends had more flowers & balloons waiting for me in my "guest room". They have been feeding me & helping me with all of the machine stuff and most importantly showering me with love and love. And more love. And I don't think that's just the percocet talking.

Mr. Sunshine

Not to be confused with the TV show of the same name...
I was chatting with a friend the other day about the power of the sun. Actually its come up a few times in the past weeks as winter comes to a close and the spring tries to force it's way through.
At the end of winter people are just grumpy. They are dreaming of 'sun' vacations. They are relentlessly complaining about the cloud and gray and are generally miserable.

And then.
Then comes a sunny day.
The sky is blue and feels full.
The clouds become like cotton candy.
The air is warm and welcoming.

Everyone walks in the streets with a lightness in their step. Freedom becomes a palpable thing as people greet the day with broad smiles and open arms. What a beautiful time.

Random Musing

I have the BEST friends in the world.

Sarah Wows the Crowd

I have always wanted to play the piano, but alas did not have the discipline or talent to make it happen. Or did I???
This afternoon a good friend Esther hosted us at her house for a fantastic Easter brunch and I hit the ivory keys.

Check it out.





http://youtu.be/Us1LUsh91Nw

Tibial Tuber-what?

A week ago I was meant to have surgery... but due to some scheduling conflicts we had to re-schedule for the end of the month. The surgery isn't a big deal but apparently I'll be needing some level of pain medication that requires me to not work for two weeks. Or I may try and end up producing something really interesting...

For the benefit of my parents here are some details of what the procedure:


http://surgicalanimations.co.uk/tibial-tubercle-transfer/

The reason I'm getting the surgery is because I find I can no longer run or do any sort of sustained exercise without my knee swelling up painfully. And after only six months of lethargy I can quickly see a future where I become the mom in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape".

I will have a full leg brace with crutches for 8 weeks. But I should have everything off and be well into physio by the time summer hits. And luckily I have a wealth of good friends in the city who have offered to take care of me while I'm incapacitated.

But I will be looking for good movie and book recos...

Spring Snow

Calgary. April 2.

I was showing this to some friends of mine, all of whom said things like "how did you grow up in this?" or "What a horrible horrible picture".

Then I shared it with a relatively new friend and she swooned with pleasure. "oh... snow... you're so lucky!" And I KNEW she was a kindred spirit. Though I wasn't properly dressed- and admittedly it's easy for me to appreciate the extended winter when I was leaving it in a day- I LOVED it.

I know I'm crazy to like winter but it was great to have one last little dance with the snow until next year.