Hair cut

Got my hair cut...and I LOVE IT!!!! :) It's amazing how a good hair cut can make you feel soooo much better about yourself. I was liking my longer hair until this last month. Then it was just... yucky. I needed a change. I wanted to go short again, but something funky, with style. I went to Lisa Marie at Images Salon. I recommend her to anyone! She rocks. Well, I think my haircut speaks for itself! Sheila's away and really wanted to see it, so I took these myself:

Then I went to the LCRD fundraiser at the Black Horse, and Julie took these: I got some colour put in too. Just some streaks of red and also blond. You can't see them all the time, just when my hair moves in certain ways. And I love how the back frames my tattoo! :) I definitely have to get my tattoo touched up...it's really faded in the last year. It shouldn't have though, so hopefully they'll touch it up without charge.

Here's Julie, April, her boyfriend Jonathan...and another April! :)

The fundraiser was a raffle, but also a "Date with a Doll." About five or six of the girls were "auctioned" off for dates. Here's Rae Rae up on the bar workin' the crowd. She went for $110! Wow. Date only! :P

I'm hoping to go to pracice on Sunday and just see how my legs are after a couple laps. I think I've convinced Julie to come and just see how she feels on the skates! Hee hee

Off to Mexico!

Well, not this week or anything...but I'm going to Mexico on another Blister Sisters trek in November! We're going on a trek through Mexico's Copper Canyon, which is about four times larger than the Grand Canyon. We'll be there two weeks, approx. The trek itself is 8 days. I'm sooooo looking forward to it! Now, here's hoping that my legs will be fine. I'm changing that...MY LEGS WILL BE FINE! I had no problems in Peru! Hmm, that reminds me, I never finished writing about that trip. Oh well. If you're interested, let me know and I'll finish it! :)

Skiing was great!

I had a great weekend with my parents! We did go skiing on Sat. I really wasn't sure if it'd be good up there, but it was. We weren't on the first lift like Dad would have liked...but close enough. The day started off cloudy, got really foggy...then it cleared up and it was brilliant sunshine! The snow was pretty good in the morning. One or two of the runs were a little hard and a tiny bit icy in spots, but overall it was fine. The groomed runs, that is. The un-groomed runs were NOT so great. Here are Dad and I at the top of...I can't remember which run...Outback? Skyliner? One of those. This was late morning.
Here's mom and I on the Outback chair. By this time it was starting to clear up a bit. Often when the weather is bad, this side of the mountain is worse. It did have more fog at the beginning, but the conditions were MUCH better.

And here's dad on the Outback chair. The mountain was really not busy at all. We really skied right onto the lifts. I think the longest we waited was...three chairs? We did about 17 runs and we left between 2:30 - 3:00. We could have pushed it...but my legs had been doing so well and I just didn't want to take it too far. Quit while we're still feeling good.

On our way back we detoured to Sunriver, so my parent's could see my jewelry show. I'm glad they got to see it. It's always nice to hear that others thing my work is nice! :) We didn't wind up going to Balthazar's Sat. They're pretty expensive...and once we were cleaned up I just wasn't so much in the mood for a "fancy" place. I just wanted some good filling food. I still want to try Balthazar's though....they're entrees pretty much start at $20. A bit pricey...them damn well BETTER be good! :)

So here are my legs with the bruises I got from PT. These don't really show them really well. They're much more impressive in real life.

This one developed yesterday and today. This afternoon it's even more purple, while the others are fading. They sure do still hurt. We'll see what it's like to have them worked on Wednesday.

And this afternoon after my parents left Julie and I went for a little bike ride. My legs felt good... or at least my shins didn't hurt! :) My legs are tired from skiing all day Sat, but it was great.

The 'rents are coming

My parents are coming down for a visit this weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it. They're coming to go skiing. I wasn't sure about that after last weekend, but I think they got some snow this week up at the mountain. Not sure about that...but I hope so. We don't really care if it's slushy, but if it's too icy it's just not worth it. Of course, I'll have to take them to Sunriver to see my jewelry show. And hopefully on Sunday they can stay long enough to watch a bit of roller derby practice. We'll see how the time goes. I'm planning on making a crock-pot dinner for us tomorrow...sausage and tortellini soup. Mmmmm! I should knock on wood so that I don't burn it like I did last weekend! :)

Went to PT again today. Didn't make me cry...but it still huts like a son-of-a-bitch. I'm getting some fabulous bruises. I'll take some pictures to show you! :) I'm going to wait another couple weeks to start skating again, but I'm doing some swimming, biking (flat only!) and walking. Start off slooooooow. I'm really hopeful that it's going to work. Keep you fingers crossed for me...

Julie's got some moves! :)

Had our Bend Bella executive meeting tonight. We've got some GREAT things going on this summer... you'll just have to come to our 2007 ride season kick-off meeting Thursday April 5th at Pine Mountain Sports to find out what they are! :)


This weekend some of us went out to celebrate Julie's b-day. We had dinner, then decided to check out the new 541 Lounge. Caters to an "older" crown...in other words, over 30. Which, let's face it...we are!!! :) It was fun.

It looks like we were the only ones dancing..but we weren't. We were just in a corner, where we could really let loose. Now, it wasn't packed, but it was definitely full. I like the atmosphere, and the music was pretty good.


And the birthday girl....she has QUITE the move! :) We all think she was a pole dancer in a previous life. And then there's Sheila...that girl's got rhythm! April and I were commenting that she moves really well. Smoothly and has this innate rhythm. We had fun.


Here are April and my feet next to each other...size 1.5 vs 8! :)

I think the PT is working, 'cause dancing didn't hurt at all! In the past several months it's hurt to dance, so....hooray! Had PT again today. Made me cry, just like last time. But I'm hopeful that it's helping.

Where did these clouds come from?

When I left home this morning it was brilliant sunshine. So I'm wearing capri's and a short-sleeved shirt. The clouds outside now are just BLACK!!!!! And there is not one tiny ray of sunshine visible. What happened???? Central Oregon has to have the weirdest weather or anywhere I've lived!

And I'm so pissed/disappointed! I made one of my favourite soups last night. The Green Chili Chicken Soup recipe that I got from Sheila. Well, it wouldn't boil, wouldn't boil, wouldn't boil. I went outside to look at the sky...and the next thing I know the bottom was burnt! Now this whole pot tastes....smokey/burnt. Sigh. It's edible...but it's SUCH a great soup and I ruined it! I'm all pouty about it. :(

Going for a walk

Yesterday I went for a small walk on the River Trail after work. Man, it was so beautiful out there! And I was very happy, my legs didn't hurt at all. Now, granted we didn't do any hills really, but still that's an improvement. My left leg, which is the worse one, is somewhat tight today. All in all though, I'm pleased. Of course, what I really want to be doing is biking in this gorgeous weather! But I keep reminding myself that the whole point of all this is to get myself back to that. I've signed up tp take an adult swim class. Hopefully it'll teach us how to improve our strokes and I can get faster. I also want to learn that flip turny thingy.

I wonder what the snow conditions are like at Bachelor. My parents are coming down next weekend to go skiing...I wonder if we'll be able to. And not sure I'm supposed to...but if it doesn't hurt it should be fine. I'm looking forward to their visit. I think I'll suggest Balthazar's, the new restaurant over on Century Dr.

I had something else I was going to say....but now I can't remember. Hmm. Workin on St Patrick's Day tomorrow, but I have plans for after. Gotta have beer on St Patrick's! :) Not sure about the green beer....I don't feel that's a necessity.

Heeeeer fishie, fishie, fishie

So....Loki finally discovered the fish. I cleaned their bowl and replaced the water on Sunday evening. About half an hour later I went to feed them and noticed these grey things floating in the water. I scooped one out...and it was kitty litter!!!!! Loki had obviously had her mucky paws in there! Then, about an hour after that I look into the kitchen and this is what I saw.
Yup, she finally discovered the fish. This morning she was sitting up there and tapped the top of the water. I warned her of. I mean, they can fend for themselves. I'm not worried that she's actually going to be able to catch them and eat them. But I don't want her contaminating the water!

Yesterday morning we had a couple cute visitors on the porch. Can you see them? There were two large quail sitting on the railing. Both Dread and Loki spied them from across the room and went running over there. Chirruping like mad. It's such an odd sound. Must be totally instinctual and involuntary. Wonder what purpose it serves... it doesn't sound like a bird....

Can't do it

Last night in a frenzy I pulled off my boot again! I just don't think I'm going to be able to sleep with that stupid boot on my foot. It's too hot! And it makes me feel all....claustrophobic. I was in that half awake, half asleep zone, and all of a sudden I just NEEDED IT OFFFFFFFFF! I'll try again tonight, but.....sigh.

Ouch, dammit! :)

I started PT today for my shin splints and leg issues. Went to the orthopedist on Tuesday, and, well basically we know nothing definitive. Could be just shin splints and minor stress fractures, could be major stress fractures, could be exercise induced compartment syndrome or a variety of other things. What she knows definitively is that my calf muscles and Achilles tendon are WAY tight! I will need surgery on them at some point. Might not be for another 10 years though, hopefully. The solution to compartment syndrome is to cut the compartment...which ends up with a hernia on my leg!!!! Yuck! My legs are my only great attribute, I'm NOT going to mess them up! :)

Anyway, there are things I can do in the meantime. I have stretches to do, I can swim and ride my trainer. I need to wait to skate for another couple weeks. And...here's the really bizarre one...I'm supposed to sleep with my XC boots on my feet! That keeps my feet flexed and my calf muscles stretched. LOL this should be fun.

So it's PT min twice/week. First one today and all I'm going to say is OMFG!!!!! It hurt so much! I cried, and my legs are bruised. They have to break up the incredible amount of fibroids and adhesions in my muscles. The form of soft tissue mobilization they're using is called ASTYM. Basically, he uses these hard plastic scraper-type things and scrape it up and down the muscle. Doesn't sound painful, does it? WELL IT IS!!!!!! Man, by the end I was in tears, literally. I so don't want to go back, but I know I have to. If it'll help...I have to go. Man, I wish I had a hot tub. That would feel so nice on them right now. Oh, and they're bruised. Common reaction, nothing unusual about it.

So keep your fingers crossed for me and my little legs. I've got an appointment for a bone scan, which will hopefully tell us something, or rule a bunch of stuff out. I really want to skate again!

Went and saw Babel with April tonight...I swear to god the web page said it was playing Casino Royale. I checked several times! And The Source says thats what it's playing too!!!! But...turns out it was playing Babel. Which I really wanted to see, but I was more in the mood for something fun, not serious. It was excellent...but man, what an emotional wringer! I looked up the website ... and it turns out I was looking at the Kennedy School in Portland's page! Sheesh. Oopsy. I'll blame it on the...I dunno, something!

Jewelry Show!

:) Well, my jewelry show is up! Today was the artist reception, which was nowhere near as bad as I was thinking. The watercolours and my jewelry compliment each other very well, I think. I did purchase 3 small original paintings of tulips...they're just beautiful!

Here are the display cases. I managed to sell about 5 or 6 pieces already! Hooray. I had quite a few friends come by today, which was really nice. Hopefully more will be able to come down and look at my work over the next two months. I'd LOVE to be able to sell all...or most of the ones I have out.

Alpha and Betta

I had to get my betta a friend...so I got her this beautiful blue betta to share her bowl with. I've called them Alpha and Betta. Kinda like Thing One and Thing Two. (btw it's the Cat in the Hat's 50th birthday tomorrow! Also, Read Across America day which I'm doing a whole lot of special things for at the library) Alpha is a shimmery green and Betta is a beautiful blue. They swim all around the bowl together. How cute! :) I also got them some plants for their bow. I'm quite enjoying my fishies!

Went to see Children of Men tonight. Definitely NOT a puppy upper, but an excellent movie nonetheless. Powerful. Based on the P.D. James novel...which I have here at home. Not really sure I want to read it. I'm not in the mood for depressing things. Movies are ok, they're over in two hours or so. I probably will read it. I really did enjoy the movie. Made me cry.

So this weekend is my art show at the Sunriver library. Saturday I have to spend the afternoon setting up the show, and then Sunday is the artist reception. I didn't want one...but that;s the way they do it...so I get one. Sigh. Hopefully a couple friends will be there, so I won't be thrown to the wolves. Ulp. I'm really nervous. I just want them to like my work. I've added a couple pictures of some of the stuff I'll have at my show. For some reason they're not rotated... so you'll just have to tilt your head! :)

Oh yea, and my doctor got me into the orthopaedic surgeon really fast! I go see her this coming Tuesday morning. Thank god! I can't take much more of this absolute non-activity! I'm not allowed to bike or swim or ski or skate (obviously!) or snowshoe or even walk far!!!! Sheesh. Hopefully they don't find anything bad and I can just do PT and get back out there. Right, I'm going to concentrate on the positive. I AM going to be fine! I'm going to have strong legs and will have the best biking summer ever!!! :)