Short note - I passed one of the final milestones, and am at "approved to make offer"! I also will be back later. My boss is on vacation. I am fantasizing about texting "Duuuuude, I quit" to his Blackberry. I won't, but it sure is fun to think about! :evil:
Short note - I passed one of the final milestones, and am at "approved to make offer"! I also will be back later. My boss is on vacation. I am fantasizing about texting "Duuuuude, I quit" to his Blackberry. I won't, but it sure is fun to think about! :evil:
I like your saucy attitude! Hope you'll be able to fantasize that as you're submitting your resignation!
Oh my gosh, I have just caught up with Saef's story over the last weeks and you have my greatest sympathy. I was staying with my mom in the midwest, and every time I saw the Irene reports on the news, couldn't help thinking what if it happened to my place? (Didn't help that I was 12 time zones away from my apartment, though excess water is not often a problem in Abu Dhabi, there were several violent thunderstorm/windstorms this summer and I wasn't sure what to expect when I came home. Fortunately nothing broken, only a quarter inch of sand piled up like a snowdrift in the vicinity of every window and door, and no roof leaks.)
Clippy, the doc said I had peroneal tendinitis, which is not as common apparently as achilles or plantar fasciitis, at least as far as I can find info on it. Since March I have had pain on and off on the outside of my right foot, between my small toe and ankle, and sometimes extending under the arch. I couldn't pin down the cause since my exercise routine stays pretty much the same, although I played with a C25k program (very slowly) it did not seem linked to running at all. It seemed more connected with shoes -- I quickly found the old flipflops I pulled out for spring were a bad idea.
I had intended to be in the US only for a month this summer, but my mom got a Lyme infection and was down and out for two weeks, so I extended my stay another month. And since the pain was still there although I had tried to cut back on weight-bearing exercises, but it was the fact that my last two toes and part of my foot were numb(!) that made me ask my mom's GP for a referral. He sent me to a physio doctor who said it was peroneal tendonitis, possibly linked to a general weakness/imbalance on that side of my body. It seemed to make sense since I had a history of ankle sprains on that side, and also what my family calls "sciatica" -- shooting pains in the upper buttock- back area. Also a bit of scoliosis which makes my right shoulder a bit lower than my left. He sent me to a physical therapist, but since I only had two weeks left by then, we squeezed in 4 sessions in a hurry.
I had never been to a PT before and didn't know what to expect. He didn't actually give me any exercises for my foot except for general leg stretching, and instead gave me leg and pelvis exercises, because he said the problem was instabililty in my hips. The exercises seem to be designed to strengthen the adductors in my right hip (to reduce excessive mobility there) and the abductors in my left hip. He gave me an arch wedge for my right shoe but took it away the last week, I don't know if it was on purpose (because he said I should not get dependent on it, but rather retrain my muscles) or by accident when he was testing my gait with and without it. Also he said shoes that control motion in my ankle, so all the sandals and mules I usually wear teaching (even the Clarks!) are out.
He was also interested in a clicking noise I've always had in my right hip in certain positions, and when I asked said it was hip impingement. I'm almost sorry I asked because all the web pages explaining impingement also have the words "arthroscopic surgery" somewhere farther down. Oh, and "active middle-aged women" . I'm only 43! I guess the "active" is a good thing, right ?....
Things were generally getting better -- less pain in my foot and the numbness was gone fairly often; my back had on and off days but usually better. Oh, and the doc also told me to take naproxen day and night for at least 2 weeks so that probably had something to do with it. But I think the last days before I left, the hip exercises are starting to catch up with me, and sitting in a cramped plane seat 17 hours over Sunday-Monday didn't help either. And today my foot is back to square 1 and my right groin is killing me, not just in a sore muscle way but edging into "sprained something" territory. I am kind of cranky that these expensive exercises might be doing damage. (Treatment in the US is "out of network" for my employer, so I had to pay cash and hope to get reimbursed.) I did buy some gel arch inserts which seemed to help me when I walked around the Minnesota State Fair last week, so I'm going to dig them out of the luggage for tomorrow. For work I bought a pair of Merrell pumps, because I wear Merrells for hiking, and a pair of Anne Klein shoes that are shaped like Danskos but are fabric instead of leather. Right now my running shoes make me feel the best, but I can't wear those to teach because people dress fairly formally here, and I have two classes of male students this semester, and I'm going to have to put on my Respect My Authoritay! pose to the max.
Last edited by bronzeager; 09-07-2011 at 01:01 PM.
Reason: ETA: Yay Becky!
The way you phrased it sounds like my place of employment, with its tortuous etiquette for the courtship of potential new hires. (It's fresh on my mind because I have to help interview someone on Friday.)
Becky! Cautiously confident? Hurray? Please keep us in the picture.
Wednesday
Sleep. 7 hours + 1.25 this afternoon. I'm getting there.
W. -0.5lb
E. Nil. Rest took priority.
F. Slightly desperate eating once or twice which I link to the sleep question. Otherwise, pretty good. I had a bath whilst the DB had his supper, kept company at the table by his DF. This enabled me to avoid any further desperate eating, linked to my Occasional Reluctant Mother Syndrome. This manifests itself in, for example, extreme reluctance or refusal to make food for other people, or engage in conversations about what girls or boys are thought to be like.
Other. The DB has told me I show promise as a mother. I am pleased and think it is because of my Syndrome rather than despite it.
I turned in my polite, 2-line resignation letter to the HR rep this morning, and sent an email to my manager. Technically, I am jumping the gun just a bit, since I don't have an official offer yet, just the "approved to make an offer". My very risk-averse self is writhing somewhat! However, I slept better last night than I have in months, which tells me that I'm okay with the decision. I'm happy to be taking a strong step in the right direction, toward something I want to do instead of what everybody else wants. So ... party on! Interestingly, despite being nervous last night, I did not nervously eat. Another good sign!
SB, I am certain that you are exactly the kind of mother your bright, spirited DB needs and he is exactly the DB you were always meant to mother.
As a professional observer of mothers, I have come to the conclusion that kids need food, shelter and education. They also need love, patience and a parent with a sense of humor. All that other crapola that the world sends out about the way things "should be" or "ought to be" is just that---crap.
Oooh, Becky! I am excited for you and I like the relief and satisfaction I hear in your post.
As for me, my belly is feeling flatter. I was going to veer off my OP food for the week and pick up some fish tacos but my window wouldn't roll down. Hahaha! And of course I couldn't possibly PARK and go in!!! So I came home and am eating better stuff.
Yay Becky! How fast before they make the offer that they are approved for?
Midwife - good job on the food this week! I'm so glad that you didn't go through the drive thru and open your car door when the window wouldn't roll down. I can't tell you how many times I've seen that...
Birchie - I'm glad to hear that you show promise as a mother. I hope I can be as good a one as I'm sure that you are.
Bronze - I'm sorry to read about all of your foot and hip trouble. Did you find your insoles for work?
I'm back to 134 today after being up to 138 on Tuesday. I'm definitely getting weary of the bouncing around. Last night I steamed brussel sprouts for an evening snack instead of the carby, peanut butter bagel I wanted. I was pretty proud of myself.
Bronze, sorry about your hip & foot issues. I have been having problems with plantar fasciitis and tendinitis in my wrists, forearms, and somewhat in other areas for a long time. For me at least they think I have some variety of autoimmune connective tissue disease but they haven't managed to figure it out yet. What sort of work do you do in Abu Dhabi?
SB, how was your sleep today?
I'm still 139. No more, no less, so no harm done but I'm not making progress. TOM just appeared though so it may be related, but probably not. DH and I are going out for my birthday this weekend but after that I think I need to go back to good old fashioned calorie counting. Sigh. I am so sick of it, but I know what needs to be done and I know it works. The extra exercise I've been doing and the gluten free diet appear to have absolutely no effect on my weight. Although to be fair I've gotten to the point where I'm getting about 150 extra cals/day in supplements between the fiber and the gelatin so that may be part of it.
Benefit of gluten-free diet: I was hungry, I went past the break room, I saw a delicious looking baguette sitting there, and I did not eat it. If I wasn't on the gluten-free diet, I would absolutely have taken a piece. It's also a good motivator for avoiding cookies and such, although the chocolate in my coworker's candy dish is gluten-free so it's not 100%.
I've been sort of thinking lately that maybe DH and I should consider trying to have a baby next year. The biggest challenge would be that I think DH needs to get his depression treated for real before we do since I'm afraid he'd have a meltdown. That and my various physical ailments. And the fear that our dog may not be so amenable to it, in addition to the fear that DH and I would pass on all the bad genes in our families, of which there are plenty (both physical and mental problems).
Excellent work on flat bellies, Brussels sprouts and risk-taking, team! Let's try to keep it going.
Bronzeager, I've always loved your name. It was a good period. I do sympathise with you about shoes. We have a mail order brand called Hotter in the UK which might have something comfortable yet authoritative. Look for 'cushioning' in the blurb. They might ship to Abu D. ETA: they are in UK sizes but Lands End UK has a conversion chart.
Jessica, my sleep needs more work. I like to think 8 hours is the gold standard.
My Thursday report follows.
Sleep. 7 hours
W. +1lb
E. Very carefully, as per my physio's instruction. TM 7.5 minutes. X-trainer just over 6 minutes and then came a little, high-pitched ping in my back. So I stopped. A few physio exercises and I called it a day.
F. OK. I had a bowl of porage just now (supper time) because tea was pretty poor (bowl of soup).
Other. I want to buy a car but they are very dull. I don't want a middle-of-the-road vehicle (ha!). My current Renault Scenic was the first MPV and the designers were given their heads a bit, as were the designers of the Fiat Multipla. Those models are very different now as the manufacturers jostle for market share. (NB I think North America has quite different vehicles from those available in Europe so I'm just venting here, as today has been quite miserable in the car department.)
Last edited by silverbirch; 09-08-2011 at 05:13 PM.
silverbirch Do you watch "Top Gear" - the British one? Maybe they have a web site with recommendations for European cars? I know they have a (print) magazine. They tend to like "fun" and more unusual cars, although most of their choices are pretty pricey.
Thanks, Dagmar, good idea. I am spending the morning (and possibly day) on this project. You've just been down this road, haven't you?
Top Gear hates MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles, known in North America as minivans, I think). This is possibly because they are so dull. There is a page about future possibilities which is interesting but not much good for people looking for a car.
There is such a lot of drivel in the car world. And so many twerps.
I stood on my mother's scale for the first time today. I know everyone's weight varies between scales. If hers is accurate, I lost five pounds last week -- which doesn't surprise me, based on the fit of my clothes -- and a little over 10 pounds since the alarming high weight that brought me into this thread.
I would not recommend my methods to anyone, though.
Birchie, good luck with your hunt. I'll be looking for another car in a year or two. Did I mention that mine broke down while I was traveling Upstate, loaded with salvaged stuff from my apartment? It's a five-hour drive. About a half-hour from my mother's house, when I was starting to feel relief at the familiar landmarks, the car bucked hard when I accelerated to climb a hill. The "check engine" light started flashing and when I pulled off at the next exit and waited at a light, the car surged. At any rate, I sat in my car at a gas station, in the rain, for about two hours, feeling aggrieved & victimized till the tow truck arrived. But the car is fixed now and I have my autonomy back.
Yes, Saef!! Autonomy....through having the knowledge, skills, funding to live our own lives. I am stunned that it is 2011 and I still see women/girls abdicating their abilities to be independent by refusing to take steps to become educated. Blows my mind. All of my kids, boys and girls, will have the education they need so they can be autonomous. Haha! OT much?
Jessica, glad my story amused you!! Shannon, oh, no, opening the door at the drive through would have been WAY too embarrassing.
SB, I have a van with a broken window I'll sell to you cheap. You need to come get it and the steering wheel is on the L side.
Jessica, I admit all I saw in your paragraph was *baby*!!!!! Sometimes you just gotta roll the dice (has anyone else seen the movie "Paul"). Like I told SB, the baby you have will be exactly the kiddo you were always meant to have. I know that is way oversimplifying, but try not to worry too much. Your kid will be more fabulous and extraordinary than anything you can imagine right now.
Another good sign!
about your drive-thru experience.
I know that is way oversimplifying, but try not to worry too much. Your kid will be more fabulous and extraordinary than anything you can imagine right now.
