Apparently I Hate my Body

Sure I have lost over 40 pounds since I fought in the Heavyweight class, so now I physically look and feel better. But I do not treat my body very well. This weekend proved it.

Friday night was the Axa Christmas party which I attended as Paul's classy, sofisticated girlfriend. I wore my new, black dress which looked pretty good. But that required wearing panty hose, which is never comfortable - mark my words - and heels. Oy. I like wearing heels but there are VERY FEW that have any level of comfort. It is all about look and they looked fantastic! They matched my dress perfectly. But after the party we headed to Mac's Bad Art Bar to see Chris and his band play. I decided to stand and even dance a little, something my feet were not happy about. By the time I got to bed, the bottom of my feet felt bruised. And those wouldn't be the only parts of my body to feel bruised by the end of the weekend.

Saturday night was our annual Christmas party with the gang. I look forward to this gathering every year. It consists of hours of food, drink, games, and great times with great friends. I was wound up - hopping around, getting the puppy to chase me, stopping by the buffett here and there to soak up my drink, which was a large pint glass with a significant amount of raspberry vodka and sprite. After a few of these, my eye-hand-foot-etc. coordination was ... well it sucked. I was standing on the first landing heading down the stairs to the first floor. I grabbed the railing like I always do because I am no good with stairs (I fell down the stairs at my previous residence twice in the first couple months I lived there; it takes practice). I took maybe two steps and down I went! I slid down the stairs on my butt, left hip, thigh, knee, foot...I am listing all the body parts that now have bruises from my spill. Oh and my left arm. I hit the floor and popped right up and claimed "I'm okay!" Hey I didn't break anything, I wasn't bleeding, and I was conscious. What more did I need? I didn't feel hurt...especially with all that vodka pumping through my vains. The next morning was a different story.

I woke up Sunday hungover and incredibly banged up. The good thing was that my neck didn't hurt as badly anymore. I had other parts that hurt more and took the focus away from my previous back and neck issues. I am sure another trip to the chiropractor is in order now. For whatever reason, I seem to really be beating up my body lately. But I don't mean too!

Leg up!! Ouch - that hurt.

Niner Stands on his Tail

When Niner is standing in the kitchen, living room, top of the stairs, his tail curls around to the front of his body. He then adjusts his front paws and stands on the tip of his tail. It's really bizarre. Maybe his paws are cold and this is a way to get them off of a cold surface and warm them up a tad. I have never seen a cat do this before. And I am not sure how long he has been doing it. Has it been since I got him in 1999? If so, why didn't I notice it before? Such a quirk is hard to miss especially by someone who is usually very observant. Maybe it is because I now have hardwood floors, and carpet is not there to detract from his stance. Or maybe he actually stands more now whereas in other residences he sprawled out on the floor more. Either way he is the coolest cat ever...except for when he bites me violently. Then he is a little bastard!

So my neck isn't any better. My back is getting better. It gets tired and sore by the end of the day, but the neck is unreal. It aches all day, and often times when I take a deep breath I can hear a subtle snap or crack in my neck. I hope it is nothing serious. It really sucks hurting all the time though, and I doubt crunches are going to help. That will help the muscles in my back to support my spine but will it affect my neck? I guess there is one person I should call to get that answer. I was hoping I wouldn't have to go back to the chiropractor for weeks or even months! But I can't continue like this - it is too distracting. Unfortunately I don't have time to go.

I am in my last week of my current class. My after work time tomorrow will be spent working on my portion of my team assignment. Then I will need to head to my soccer game around 9:45, which begins at 10:25, go for an hour, landing me back at home shortly before midnight. Ugh! Then Friday I'll be leaving work early to get ready for Paul's company Christmas party. I am looking forward to that! I have never gotten to go to a significant other's Christmas party - I have only been to my own. I retrieved my black dress from the closet this evening - I love to dress up mainly because it is few and far between. The party ends at 9:30 so then I am hoping the new friends I make will be heading to a bar to continue the festivities. Saturday morning and afternoon will be spent on more school work. This will wrap up no later than 3 because then we are heading to our annual "Friends Christmas Party", something I look forward to every year. I need to buy snacks and about 3 bottles of wine...and that is just for me! Maybe I can head to the back doctor next week. Until then I'll drink the pain away.

Leg up!

Realignment and it feels so good!

I went to my first ever chiropractor appointment today. It is the right way to crack your back. It was the best thing I could have done. The stiffness I have has been around, well...for years, but it's the pain that finally made me make the appointment. After a quick examination, she ruled out any problems with discs. As I lied face down on the table, she felt up and down my spine and determined there were several vertabrae out of alignment. When she arrived to my upper back I heard "wow you are really tight here" - yeah tell me about. So the alignment began.

She started with my upper back. Still faced down, I had to breath in and as I exhaled she pushed very hard on my back. It was the flip side of cpr. POP! First one back into place. After a minute to recover, she got the second back in line...little bastard. Those two were rather uncomfortable. She moved to my lower back after that which actually didn't hurt at all. Finally my neck was the last hurdle. And bebecause that area is closer to my ears, she was afraid I'd be freaked out by the cracking sound. She said let's do the first one and if it's too much and freaks you out, we can use the...I forget the name of the instrument but it would no longer be a manual adjustment which is better and lasts longer. I said ok let's go. The first one was weird! It felt good yet hurt a little. How was that she asked? I said let's try one more. Done! Ok let's do them - four in total just in the neck! I had 10 bones out of alignment - she said that was a third of my back! Sweet relief! Then I got to lie on a little water bed that was heated with jets - it was one of the best massages ever! I am still sore because of just being sore all week and I had to fight another headache today, but I am sure I'll be feeling better soon. And I think my frequent headaches that have plagued me for years may disappear somewhat as well.

Leg up!!