Take the Fight to the Gym
My physical therapist says I need more time off from karate. My knee says so too. I just didn’t want to listen to it.
Almost a week after class, I still have pain, swelling and bruising. Imagine taking purple and blue markers and leaving little dots all around my largest incision scar area. That’s pretty much what I look like. I’m also super sensitive on the top of my tibia.
Along with warning me to listen to my knee and take a break, my PT encouraged me to get back to the gym. I went in search of a gym membership and I think I’m joining one tomorrow. Despite the fact that it feels sort of like a night club and less like a gym, I’m joining for the pool and because a dear friend of mine also belongs there. I won’t feel nearly as stupid, walking laps in the pool if I’m walking along with her.
I went in today for an initial tour. The sales guy was this beefcake of a dude who sized me up before saying, "So where have you been working out? Because you obviously work out." I laughed out loud. "Yeah, it’s called carrying around a three-year old." He then introduced me to a trainer who will set me up with a work out plan. He had surgery for a torn ACL and meniscus, so we instantly bonded and compared scars. His may be bigger, but mine is way uglier.
Then he started asking me questions about my height and weight. He guessed higher on my weight than what I actually am, but lower on my age by a good seven years so I forgave him. Then, he hands me the little machine which happens to be a body fat calculator. I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with my body fat percentage so I cringed and told him if it was bad, I was tossing it in the pool before he got a look at it.
It came back at 21.6%. That is so not at all bad. So, as far as that goes, I’m inbetween the good and excellent. I have 1.6% to go to be completely in "excellent." I was expecting to be about 50% fat so I was elated.
Then I got the tour. He showed me the "trainer area" where there were a bunch of young ripped guys standing around looking bored. He showed me the equipment. While getting the tour, I took careful inventory and besides the trainer, there wasn’t anyone there that looked too intimidating. The pool was really sweet, and I imagine I’ll be spending most of my gym time there in the beginning. The low impact water aerobics and the weights that you can use while walking or swimming laps will definitely come in handy.
Unlike previous gyms I’ve toured which sound like headbanger concerts, today’s gym was playing Nelly and other hip hop and rap music. I asked the sales guy if the old people complain and he nodded that they do. Personally, I’m psyched about the music choices.
And, when I’m feeling up to it, there’s a work-out room with five heavy bags hanging in the room. I need to fight my way back to karate and the fight now goes to the gym.
Six Days to Go (Not a Post About My Knee)
I wrote this depressing post about how my physical therapist thinks my knee needs more time and that I need to take more of a break from karate. It’s full of depressing and discouraging junk.
This is so much better. . .
The countertops are finished. The faucet and lights are going in today. It took the electrician all day yesterday just to unwrap all the lights and get them ready for hanging.
Today they are finishing the exterior stone and stucco.
They’ve finished grading the yard. And they should be putting our stove and microwave in today too. The recessed lighting is going in. The jacuzzi tile went in today and is now finished. The bathroom and fireplace grout is now done.
The master bath lights are up and looking fabulous.
The carpet guys were also there putting the padding down and installing the tack strips. Six days to go.
I’m not talking about my knee today. Don’t try to make me.
Unexpected Surprise
We were told that the counter tops were going in on Tuesday or Wednesday. Today, when we arrived at the house, the counter top guys were there delivering two of the smaller pieces.
The rest are going in on MONDAY! The lights are also going in on Monday! AND the appliances are being delivered on Monday too. It is safe to say that there will be a lot of pictures posted on Monday. I can not WAIT!
Here is a picture of the hall bath with the mirrors installed. . .
And here is the powder room. . .
Today Mr. BBM and I spent hours standing in one aisle in Lowe’s. When all was said and done, we left with $2.70 worth of paper blinds. We are both just so tired of making decisions. Considering that, it’s nice to see that the decisions we’ve made thus far are turning out just fine.
Getting Picked on is Universal
I went to the house yesterday to drop off all my bathroom mirrors. There were three guys there installing my hardwood floors when I arrived. Because it was in the morning, I was thinking that they wouldn’t have much of it done. They told me it was a two day job, so I didn’t bother to take a look before getting to the business of carrying my mirrors inside.
As I walked the first mirror in and went up the back staircase, it blocked my view of the dining room and foyer. After dropping off the first mirror, I headed back down and was greeted with this view.
"Woo hoo!" I yelled, "That looks awesome!" They guys smiled at me and kept working. Whenever I’ve been around them, they are always talking in Italian. I so wish I could speak that language. You just know they’re discussing your butt or the large zit on your forehead (or in my case the mosquito bites, I swear).
I had five mirrors to bring in and I had to bring them one at a time. They are seriously heavy. As I was bringing in the 4th mirror, I heard one of the guys saying with his Italian accent, "Woo hoo, that looks awesome." He kept repeating it at regular intervals and the other two guys were laughing each time. They clearly thought I had left.
I quietly continued taking my mirrors to the bathrooms and when I turned the corner, I almost ran right into one of the guys. With a bewildered look on his face, he started speaking Italian to the other guys. I can pretty much bet he was saying, "Oh crap, she’s still here! Shut-up!"
I smirked at him and said, "You know, you may be speaking Italian, but being picked on is a universal language. I totally get that you’re making fun of me. I’m a teacher. Nothing gets by a teacher." The guys were congregating around me as I gave my little speech and they all started cracking up laughing as they realized they were clearly busted.
I then told them they should be happy I’m so excited, because it means I think they’re doing a good job. The one guy was laughing so hard during the lecture that he could barely breath. Finally, he stopped laughing just long enough to apologize. "No apology is necessary," I told him. "Just keep up the good work!"
They certainly did do a great job. They finished the entire job in just one day and it looks beautiful.
One of my Italian "friends" who was clearly thrilled to be a part of my house building picture portfolio collection.
The dishwasher goes in today. Lights go in Monday and my counter tops go in Tuesday or Wednesday. 10 days to go.
Me and My Annoying Knee
I went to the dojo tonight for the early class. I figured if I was feeling good enough, I’d stay for the late class. I wasn’t so I didn’t.
Stretches went fine until we got to the sit-ups. I had no idea that ACL surgery also eliminates stomach muscles, but apparently it does. I haven’t exactly kept up with sit-ups in my months away from karate. I’m going to pay for that tomorrow.
Push-ups went better if you ignore the awkward girl stance I was in with my bad leg out straight and all my weight balanced between my hands and my one good knee. Something tells me my good knee may soon be my second bad knee.
We started off class with some basic moving drills; and they were uncomfortable and nerve-wracking. I wanted to be concentrating on my hip movement, my stances and making my arms do the right things at the right time. Instead, I spent the entire moving drill concentrating on that sink, twist and step out motion that was causing twinges of pain every single time I did them.
We then stood in Nai Hanchi for a while and worked on different strikes. While I wanted to concentrate on my punches, I ended up watching myself in the mirror and the obvious lean I was doing onto my good leg. I kept trying to make myself center up again, but I’d always find myself leaning back to the right side again.
Then I got a cramp in my calf muscle. My leg muscles just aren’t conditioned enough yet. Nai Hanchi stances kills. When we moved on to some kicking drills, I bowed out for a bit. Soon, I was called to go downstairs for Big I’s promotion. She got a promotion and a stripe tonight and another green belt dad and I got to play the role of "yudansha."
Big I thought it was fun to bow to me after she was given her certificate. I was just relieved when I could get off the floor after agonizing in an awkward seiza which was pretty much me kneeling on one knee with my left leg hanging out awkwardly to the left.
When I went back upstairs, they were working on more kicking drills. I don’t have clearance to do that yet, and I was feeling sore and tired so I went home.
Unlike the week before, I didn’t have a good ride home. This knee business absolutely sucks on so many levels. I’m one of those people that wants to do something and do it well. Right now, I can’t do anything well when it comes to karate. I can’t clear my head because I’m always worried about my knee; and I can’t do anything the way its supposed to be done.
I feel like a slacker and a loser and I don’t like it one bit. Maybe it was too soon to go back. Maybe I’m just not there yet. On the drive home, all I kept thinking is that I may not ever get back to where I was before and that is beyond frustrating.
I’m going to try to just get it out of my head. I’m reading a book called "Me, Chi and Bruce Lee" about a guy who attempts to get a black belt, gets a bunch of injuries, and "learns what the martial arts is all about." I’m on Chapter 3 right now and I’m thinking this is just the book I need to be reading right now.
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