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| Xmas in LA |
I'm back in the land of Milk and Honey for the holidays. Where a $100k Benz is as ubiquitous as a yellow cab in Manhattan. My cousin told me the police will fine you for driving a dirty car in Santa Monica. I've got at least $500 in bird poop collecting on the hood of my Fit.
As of Today, Christmas 2014, I'm 10 months post op. It's not been a linear recovery at all, but there have been some moments of clarity, and unfortunately a setback or two as well. A few weeks ago I pushed through a couple brutal days. My sacrum was on fire, but that may have been caused by the little slip and fall I experienced while walking down a slick wooden ramp. It was the first time since surgery that I've fallen down. And of course it had to be right smack onto my tailbone. I was more upset than anything else at the time, and there was no immediate pain from the impact. But a few days later things started to act up around my sacrum, burning as if I was sitting on a hot plate. Of course my mind started to venture into some dark places, but I maintained my cool and the pain subsided. At least now I know I can take a hit.
I get asked all the time, "How are you feeling?" I generally nod and politely say everything is good. I try not to talk about my back much since the pace at which my recovery is going can best be described as glacial. That, and I simply want to feel normal, and talking about my back ad nauseam erases any sense of normalcy I'm feverishly trying to cling to. Granted, a year ago I couldn't do half the things I'm doing today (more like 80%). But I'm nowhere near where I hoped I'd be. I'm not pedaling on the road as I'd planned, but I am riding the stationary bike, albeit with a fair level of discomfort. I can trot up flights of stairs and run uphill. And I use the word, 'run', loosely. Ever seen a flamingo run? It ain't pretty. I can maintain a HR of 165 bpm for a good stretch on the treadmill at a 15% incline. And my pool workouts are remaining strong and I can knock out a mile in the pool in just over half an hour.
My TRX workouts have been increasing with intensity, but I'm mindful to step back if anything isn't feeling 'right'. I can admit now that I pushed way too hard in the weeks after surgery, which I know held me back, so I'm trying to truly listen to my body speak to me and err on the side of caution.
I'm still shooting for spring to be back in the saddle, but that might even be optimistic considering the current pace of my recovery. But we'll blow up that bridge once we get to it. And since I like to set goals, what the hell...next July - DOWNIEVILLE!
While out enjoying the SoCal sun this morning I saw this new mural on the back wall of the former Zephyr Surf and Skate shop (now Dogtown Coffee). It reminded me of a time as a little grommet, worshipping the likes of Jay Adams and Tony Alva. It's nice to see some of the local history remains.
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| Days of Dogtown |
It also reminded me that you can take the grommet out of the Westside, but you can't take the Westside out of the grommet. No matter how hard you try.
Happy Holidays and a better New Year to all of me peoples!
