I Must Be Nuts! My AIDS/LifeCycle Training Blog

Another picture.

Here's one more.  Hopefully I will get the ones from the ride developed and posted soon.  Oh, and I went back to the doc today for wrist follow up.  It's not looking good. . . maybe more surgery, but I won't know til I go back in six more weeks.

More Pictures

I told you they weren't all that interesting.

The end of Day 2.  I still look okay.  For anyone who never notice before, yes my right ear IS higher than my left ear. 

Look what the doctor gave me!  Apparently I am allergic to California. . . and am asthmatic only when in that state.

Day 3. . .the shower line.

Day 4.  Top of the second Evil Twin.  Halfway to LA, baby!

Day 5  "Red Dress Day."  While this is not a red dress, it certainly was amusing.     

Random Red Dress Day participants.

Look!  It's a pack of Trojans!

Day 6 on Bus Divalicious.  This is the blow up doll sitting in the seat next to me.

   

A Few Pictures!

Everyone's been asking me about pictures from the ride, and while I haven't gotten the disposable camera developed yet, here are a few from the cell phone.  I'm no good at taking pictures because I never think to do it. . . and when I did, I was trying to outrun the caboose, so I really didn't have time to.  Here are the ones I have.

So, this is somewhere in the San Francisco area on May 30.  The view from BART.

Another view from BART

The view from inside BART.  That is a map of the SF area.

The evening of May 30 in the hotel bar.  That guy looked a lot like the manager of the White Sox, only he was wearing a San Diego cap.  He looked more like him in person.

The Cow Palace on Orientation Day.  This is where we started the ride. 

Inside the Cow Palace.  This is just a small portion of the 2500+ bikes.

My "Stag" among the rest of them.

The evening of May 31.  I'm beginning to rethink the whole "bicycle from San Francisco to LA" thing. 

Around 4am the morning of the Day 1.  On the bus to the Cow Palace.

Ed and Chrystyna.  We shared a room in the hotel the two nights prior to the ride.  Don't they look so happy?

Opening Ceremonies.  Ugh. . . so many people!

Somewhere on Day 1.

 

I was to tent in the P section.

          

Geared Up

Again, it's been a while.  Still no home internet, but I should be getting it again soon.  This post is brought to you by Panera, where I'm listening to this 60-ish year old couple on their first date/meeting.  I bet they met on the internet.  It's actually quite amusing.  Yep, he is on the phone now and just said he is with someone he met on match.com.  Aww.  Hmm, oh and I got new glasses since I last wrote.  See?

Anyway, so I was supposed to go on a 50 mile ride today, but I sort of overslept.  I woke up aroun 7:30am and was supposed to meet up with the group at 8am in Chicago, so that obviously wasn't happening.  It's okay, though, because I managed to get a haircut and come here and check up on my internet stuff.  I have felt pretty guilty all day. 

Yesterday I rode about 42 miles with Ed, Chris, and Frank.  We rode from downtown up through Evanston, and then to Highland Park. . . and back.  It was okay.  From the time I woke up yesterday I wasn't really "feeling it."  I just wanted to roll back over in bed--maybe that's why I didn't get up this morning.  Yesterday's winds were terrible.  We had headwinds and some crosswinds going both ways.  I think there were all of 7 seconds of tailwinds.  I had to fight for every mile.  Poor Ed was in the back riding with me the whole time.  I feel kind of bad to make him go so slowly, but I appreciate him doing it.

I fell again yesterday.  I had an unexpected stop and couldn't get my right foot disengaged from the pedal.  Fell right over again.  Got a decent scrape on the outside right calf, pedal imprint on the inside right calf, nasty bruise on the inside left calf, and just about sliced the tip of my left ring finger off (no idea how that one happened--I must have cut it on the brake lever?). 

Last Sunday I rode 48 miles!  It was supposed to be 52, but we ended up taking a wrong turn which apparently turned out to be a shortcut.  That time it was from downtown to the Botanic Gardens and back.  I had a much easier time with that ride than the one yesterday, even though yesterday's was shorter.  I guess it was because the trail was nicer last weekend and the weather was beautiful.  Yesterday was just cold and windy.  On the way back, again Ed was with me--thanks Ed!  We had several pit stops, including the one in the picture. . . yeah, McDonalds.  I always forget to take pictures of the folks I'm riding with.   

So, I sent out some follow-up letters this week, still asking for donations.  I'm at $1,445 as of today including the couple I know of that just haven't posted yet.  That still puts me $1,055 short of the minimum, but I'm hoping that all the folks who said earlier that they'd donate once it gets closer still remember to donate.  If not, I'll just have to come up with it myself. 

Oh, and last weekend on the way back on the 48 mile ride, Ed had my try riding in my "big gear" in the front, and while I was pretty scared of it at first (I'd been riding the middle one) it turned out to work much better.  I've been using it ever since.  I've done a few rides in the week, but nothing long and not much to report there.  Next Sunday is 86 miles!  Luckly, we will have a sag wagon just for me (okay, not just for me, but I may have to take advantage of it).  I'm really looking forward to it because it will probably be the closest simulation to a day on the ride that I'll have before it actually gets here.

Anyway, I guess that's about it.  I'll write again after that 86 miler next weekend!  Happy riding!   

Wow, it's been a while!

I've had very limited internet access lately, so I haven't been very good about  blogging.  I did want to say that I went back to the doc on March 25 for a follow-up and he said I could ride outside after two weeks!  The wrist is healing well.  I'm getting some movement back, but it still hurts. . . a lot. 

So, what did I decide to do my first time back on the bike outside in months?  Go on a 32-mile bike ride with the Chicago riders!  I managed to do the whole thing, but am pretty sore (it was this morning).  It was supposed to be a 12-15 mph ride, but the whole time either Ed or Chris stayed in the back with me.  I'm pretty slow.  Brandon was with us for about half of the ride and using a handcycle. . . his pace was about the same as mine--a bit sad for me (he is only doing the handcycle for the ride, normally he rides a foot-powered bike). 

My wrist isn't bothering me too badly.  It was such a nice day out!  My right arm got a little sunburned (left was covered by the brace) even though I had sunblock on. 

So, we rode the lakefront path, where they were apparently holding a 50K run.  Yeah, you read that right--50K!  We had lunch at Mellow Yellow (I think that was the name).  There were seven of us and two bike locks, so that was interesting.  We ended up taking all of our front wheels inside and laying them up against the wall.

   

I did take a little tumble. . . or two, but nothing major.  One from not being able to release my right cleat and one from just not moving (I have no finesse at starting and stopping).  So, one fall to the right and one fall backwards.  I'm okay, Mom.  I didn't even hit my wrist on the ground.  I tucked.  I do have a nice bruise on my left leg where it hit the pedal on the way down.  Ouch!

All in all it was a good day.  I'm a bit nervous about building my miles at this point, being off the bike with the surgery and all, but I'm optimistic.  On the other hand, fundraising is at a standstill.  I'm up to $1,355.  I still have a long way to go!  So I've you're reading and have been thinking about donating, go ahead and DO IT!  I need your support! 

Thanks to everyone who has already donated.  You're all awesome! 

I hope to be able to update on a more regular basis soon, but until then--happy cycling!

Back on the Bike

Today I got back on the bike and rode about 10 miles.  Inside, of course.  It's the first time I've been back on the bike for any length of time since my surgery.  It's a bit depressing--feeling like I'm starting over, but I'm hoping I can do it. 

I met up with some of the Chicago folks who are doing the ride on Thursday.  We got together at Midtown Kitchen + Bar.  It was nice to finally meet some of the people I'll be riding with.  I meant to take pictures!  But I forgot :(  We are doing it again later this month, so I will try to get some them.  Ed and Chris are also setting up some training rides in the near future, so I hope to be able to participate--it all depends on what the doc says.

I go back for my follow-up on the 25th.  I'm hoping the doc will say it's okay for me to ride outside again because the weather has started to become GORGEOUS and I am stuck riding in place.  Boo!  I'm not sure how much longer I'll have to be in this long arm brace.  I hope to move to the short one again soon. . . and then no brace, but I am pretty nervous about that.  Having spent a good deal of time over the past year and a half in a brace or cast, I've gotten used to a lot of support fr my wrist.  I feel unsafe when I don't have any sort of brace on, which at this point is only when I'm showering or massaging my scar (to prevent it from adhering to my bone). 

Here are a few pics of how my wrist is healing.  Click any of them to see larger pics (didn't want to gross anyone out):

2/25/08--one week after surgery

3/04/08--two weeks after surgery

 

3/07/07--getting there

3/15/08--just about one month after surgery

The side from one week to one month after:

   

New Brace

I finally got my  new brace finished at work.  It's so much more awesome than the piece of junk the OT made.  Check out the pics:

Also, got two more donations!  Thanks to Jan A. and Pam C. 

I got back on the bike while on the trainer the other day.  I'm still a little hesitant, but hope to be out on it again soon.  It's finally daylight when I get off work again!  Thursday I'm going downtown for a meet and greet with some of the other Chicago area riders.  That should be fun! 

<

Good News!

Tomorrow we're going to work on my new brace!!!  You know, one that doesn't look like crap!

I was so bummed yesterday.  It was super-nice outside--in the 50s!  But who couldn't go ride her bike outside?  Me :(  I am just getting back on the indoor trainer this week.  I figure if I can go back to work today, I can go back to bike, as long as I don't have to worry about it falling over. 

And thanks to Ken for his donation yesterday!  It's so exciting to be getting closer to my fundraising goal!

Post-Op Update 3

It's been 9 days since my wrist surgery.  I think I'm doing pretty well.  I am typing with my right hand plus my lft middle finger (with my arm bent, I can't get in the position to use them all). 

I went in for a follow-up on Monday.  I wasn't supposed to go back until next Monday, but I was having some problems so they had me come in--I kept feeling like my last two fingers were crossed when they weren't ane had some stabbing pains in the back of my hand (where surgery was not done). 

The PA said that I still had a lot of swelling.  They replaced my steri-strips and then took me out of the long arm splint.  They sent me down the hall to the OT for a Muenster style splint to allow elbow flexion and extension.  That  didn't work very well at all, so she switched to a "sugar tong" splint.  Once made, they asked me if I could straighten my arm and I laughed, but then I realized they were serious.  Sure, I caan bend it, but how am I supposed to straighten it when it's in a brace made at 90 degrees?  Okay, call me an orthotics snob, but I think the splint looks like crap.  I also think it fits like crap.  At this point I should probably remind you that I am a prosthetist and I work with orthotists.  Orthotists make braces.  I know how a good brace should look and fit and this just doesn't cut it.  I would be embarassed to let one of my paitents walk out the door with somethingthat looked like this.  The edges are sharp and it is very loose in the hand.  Here are a couple of pictures.

I also have some pics of my wrist.  It really doesn't look that bad.  I will make them small so folks don't get grossed out.  If you really want to look, click on them to enlarge.

   

I do have one good thing to say about the splint--I can wash my arm!  Yep, as of today, I can take off the splint and wash my arm. 

Anyway, I will be back to work next week and hope to be back on the bike (on the trainer, of course) next week as well.

And please, keep donating!!!

Post-Surgery Update 2

I am so frustrated!  I just typed out a four paragraphupdate for you guys (one-handed, of course) and as I hit "post" I got disconnected and lost it.  So, I'll type another later.  I don't have the patience to do it again right now.