Saturday, September 20, 2008

Dog Days of Summer


Dwindling away, at the very least.

So what does one do when stuck at home with not a heck of a lot to do? Go online to apple.com and buy the new iPod Touch with Nike+ iTunes and a pair of in-ear headphones.

What does one do when one's good friend will not leave the house because she is so bummed with the state of her marriage? Play on her sympathy for her dog and your crippled state and ask to meet up on a walk around the neighborhood. I'm very proud to say that I've done so two days in a row since the Touch arrived and will probably do so again tomorrow morning (her husband returns from the mainland tonight, she will probably need the stress break, as will the pup).

Both days I've come just shy of 3 miles, and she has had an ear and shoulder on which to lean. The morning yesterday was hot, we ran into another friend and her dog on the loop as well (thus the two happy faces above). While she was not amenable to getting the toenail intervention accomplished, she was to a wine interlude in the afternoon. So home I went, showered and shaved my legs (can't go to the salon with hair growth!), and then out for a pedicure and a trip to the shrink.


Yes, I see a shrink, but for ADHD treatment. Late in life diagnosis. Let me tell you that Strattera has made a significant difference in my life. Something about sharing your life with a psychiatrist (this referral is about my hubby) makes you more amenable to therapy. Or less. For me it was more.

But I digress.

Back home I came, changed clothes, activated the girlfriend network (meow, meow, meow!), and dragged a bottle of wine over. We sat and talked for quite a while, even after her daughter came home, and through the spousal unit texting his whereabouts.

Believe it or not, I was waiting for that text. The night before he announced his hiring at Schofield was up in the air as they were reneging on the salary offer, and that he might be out of work in two weeks. Augh! Thankfully, when he announced his intention to leave, the hospital came to their senses.

I still digress. But that was stressful.

Anyway, we talked and ate and then came home. Later, in the wee hours of the morning, hubby and I had a good talk about the situation and I got to voice lots of questions. It was a wonderful discussion, and I relaxed to the point of being able to sleep until 7 am!

This morning, I met up with my girlfriend and we walked the loop again. Lots of good discussion, plus hugs and doggy kisses from her pooch. She will pick up her husband at 6 tonight, and there is sucky emotional time ahead for her. I told her I would stop by on the walk tomorrow morning, and force her out of the house.

I'm rambling, rambling, rambling. I hope I'm helping her, and I'm being there in the right way. I've taken on fielding the questions from the other girlfriends in the network, and am trying to channel the spouse in a way where I am moderately impartial, while at the same time extremely defensive of her.

:(

Like I said before, I'm learning.

Anyways, now watching the Cubs win (go, go, go!), and typing, getting ready to activate more of the girlfriend network and shower now that the pt exercises are done for the day.

On the plus side, I love, love, love my new iPod Touch!

Now to let that enthusiasm bubble over to supporting my friend.

Aloha.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Meet my torturer


Or is it my incentivizer?? SGT Price from the Tripler Physical Rehabilitation Center.

Tuesday was a bad rehab day. Really bad. Tight, painful, locking knee. Par for the course, I think that it's just that I'm screwing up somehow and not measuring up to expectations. SGT Price has a different suggestion. I'm doing too much.

No way. Not me. (I hear that snorting)


Hmm. Let's turn our crutches upside down and take a look and see what's happening.

Oh. Maybe I am doing a little too much.....but how can walking be bad for you? Definitely bad for the crutches.

Anyways, I took yesterday off from stretches and strengthening exercises, spent quality time manipulating the knee and icing down (after finishing yet another paper). And sleep, I did that quite a bit as well. Guess I'm catching up finally. Wayne came home, and it was out for haircuts and dinner.

So this morning I was skeptical of my ability to progress, go figure.

I took off the brace, noticed very little stiffness in the knee, and didn't have the customary 2 minutes before the knee was warm on the bicycle. I did my quad sets and actually saw the formation of a quadricep muscle. I lifted my leg and there was no lag behind the knee!

And it just kept going well, deepest squats I've been able to do thus far, pressing 60 pounds on the leg extension, adding a 3 pound weight to my ankle on the hamstring curl. It was great! Plus I noticed a change in the swelling of my knee. First shot is 10 days ago, second shot today:


It almost looks like a knee, only bigger.

Now as for my girlfriend, she had an extended talk with her husband this morning, and I went over at lunchtime with wine and cheese in hand. Well, wine and poke. We both had a glass, and she seems to be doing quite well, better than I would be. She has quite an extended support family here in Hawaii (in addition to her actual family), and we're all rallying behind her. I left her after an hour as she was heading with her eldest to the mall. She wants a return visit so we can use the hot tub and drink some more wine. I can probably handle the wine, but may need to avoid the hot tub for a week or two more...must ask doctor...also must ask about extending the short term disability another 4 weeks at 20% so I can go to pt two days a week without having to worry about making up the time.

And my new Nike + iTunes iPod Touch arrived in the mail today! Now getting the old one ready to ship back home, along with my 3rd gen Nano. They'll get more use there. And I can now start tracking my miles! With the assistance of the old crutches, that is.

Aloha!

No, no, not work!

Ok, I admit it, I've liked being home this week for the most part. I've caught up on a lot of sleep that seemed unobtainable due to knee pain in previous weeks, plus all my school work is up to date. But the 24th looms ever closer...it's my plan to get 20% for another 4 weeks or so so that I can go to pt twice a week without fear of having to make up missed hours of work.

I so need to win the lottery.

Add to that a girlfriend in crisis. She discovered (quite by accident) that her husband had co-signed a loan on a Lexus (!) with someone, and then found hundreds of phone calls to one number over the past 10 months on the cell phone bill. She called the number, and at the other end was a Korean woman who wouldn't identify herself (can't say I would). Found out that the woman had already picked up the Lexus.

Her husband first denied knowledge of the co-signing, and then relented saying that the woman was only a friend.

Did I mention that the call frequencies increased over the course of the last month?

Anyway, she's now not sleeping/eating/etc, something with which I am familiar, having dropped down to 147 pounds at one low point in life, and using sleep inducing products...all too familiar.

Time for an intervention, and time to focus on being a good girlfriend, something with which I am not completely familiar, for which I apologize to all girlfriends past, present and future. After almost half my life living alone (with the exception of my Korean roomies and hubby), I've pretty much stayed isolated from people, and tried to rely on very few at all.

So, if anyone has girlfriend like tips, they are appreciated. I'm starting out with wine, cheese, and the lure of either a movie or pedicure. I'm thinking the pedicure is the one that will win out.

:(

I think we'd all rather go diving so that we didn't have to talk, but since that isn't an option, we'll see how toenails go.

Aloha.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Awesome weekend!

Not exactly the belle of the ball, not exactly on time, but AWESOME! :)

Friday was on heck of a day, woke up at 2:30 am (a standard need to turn over which I can't do right now), at which eight legs pounced upon me. Four of the legs were very vocal (meaning Rocky), and wound up moving the supported body directly on my chest. Obviously needed attention. The second set of four (Oscar Wilde-Cat) wanted to lay on my left knee (the healing one). Loud purring noises ensued from the first, and an annoying, raspy sound from the second. No luck with going back to sleep. Finally, after shooing off all eight legs (let them roost for half an hour), I tried to count sheep. Still no luck. So I got up and went into the living room to read and watch Law and Order on the DVR. At 5 am, I went back in and fell asleep about 20 minutes later, waking up again at 6:30.

Argh.

Wayne went off to work, and I started the day at home -- two loads of laundry, one of dishes, walking 2 miles, and physical therapy exercises, combined with a trip to Wal-Mart (as I've said before, the uber awesome spot in Waipahu). Got finished with all that, ate a little lunch, and it was already 2pm! So, showered, and waited for Wayne to arrive home.

He got here a little after 3:30, and we left at about 3:50. Plenty of time to arrive and make it to the cocktail time at 6. No such luck. Wayne forgot his dress shoes, and remembered when we hit Nimitz. Turned around and got his shoes. Made it to the hotel at about 5:40.

I won't digress with how disappointed I am with the Hilton staff. But I am.

We checked in, got up to the room, changed, and were downstairs at 6:20. The receiving line was closing, we chose to find out where we were seated instead. Good thing for us. No sooner had we made it to the chart, the seating bell rang. Oy.

For those who don't understand, walking in a full length, narrow skirt with heels makes you like a hobbled horse. Doing so with a brace and crutches is even worse. Add to that all the ups and down with "please be seated" and the "please stand for" and you have a nightmare. Crutches under the table, so I needed the help of both Wayne and the Chaplain (my other seatmate).

We made it through the whole evening, up to the awards at the end. Surprise, surprise, I was the recipient of the Bronze Order of Mercury! "The Bronze Order of Mercury recognizes those people who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity, moral character, professional competence and selflessness, and who have contributed significantly to the promotion of the Signal Corps and the Signal Regimental Association." After 19 years, recognition at last. I have to thank my boss, Colonel Michele Bolinger, for the recognition. I want to be like her when I grow up. Once the dancing started, we were out of there.

The rest of the weekend was equally as good. Saturday was spent walking around some of Waikiki, going to Wine the Experience to bottle our batch Limited Sicilian Nero d'Avola-Shiraz. It was a great bottling, small, but with good people! We also selected two new vints to bottle after Thanksgiving -- one that we served at our wedding (Washington Yamhill Pinot Noir), and our most recent favorite white, a dry Australian Riesling. I'm moving further and further away from the oak monster chardonnays.



Then it was back to the hotel, a little relaxation time, and then to dinner at the Bombay Indian Restaurant. It was an awesome little hole in the wall Indian restaurant (natch) where we had some fantastic food. We had seen some terrible reviews, but the aromas wafting out were enough to lure us in...and we weren't disappointed. We went back today for brunch!

The one great thing about staying at the Hilton was the tub -- shallow with handicap access. Cannot emphasize how WONDERFUL it was to be able to sit and soak in the tub, scrubbing the leg with an intensity that could not be done standing on one leg in the shower (or sitting on the shower seat).

And now I'm home getting ready for the week, and watching Wilde-Cat attack Wayne.

Aloha!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Going to the Ball tonight!

Ah, memories of days gone by and my second ever Marine Birthday Ball -- 4 roomies headed out having fun in Korea.

This ball will be slightly different, it is the Signal ball, so it will be work rather than play.

It's been an Army week for me, getting my convalescent leave form in to the unit, working on OERs and awards (that will keep me busy through the weekend), procrastinating on another paper, and sending certified copies of my orders out to my unit.

It will be a Navy week next week, I'll be registering a contract with the directorate of contracting personnel in Italy. Been through it time and again, so with new work for Booz Allen on the horizon, time to get cracking.

Also looks as though on October 1, I will head over to a new position at NCTAMSPAC in Wahiawa. A most excellent commute with little to no traffic, and a decent position all in all, advising on the Joint Integration of networks in Guam. No moving involved, but a wee bit of travel, which will not break my heart (Palau, Yap, etc, here I come!). Of course, this will be after I have been cleared to dive, naturally. Sometimes things shake out the way they should.

SO, on to packing, doing dishes and laundry, walking, and doing my pt exercises (and another paper).

Next semester starts Monday, woo hoo! Time to get mentally engaged, probably exactly what I needed.

Aloha!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Doldrums

Well, it's finally hit. 2 weeks at home, limited mental interaction with others, being under the weather in the land of sun, sea and surf. Hard to keep a hard body when one is limited in one's exercise. I'm limited to walking with the crutches right now, and although I am spry, shoulders and armpits are the limiting factor. If I get out early enough in the morning, I can get in 2 miles (with a break in between at the park here in the development). Schoolwork is only momentarily diverting, and podcasts and tv shows are all starting to blend together. :(

Enter the doldrums.

One good thing about having fully embraced therapy many years ago, I can at least recognize the signs as they hit. I don't think I am anywhere near needing to go in and have anti-depressants prescribed; however, I think I need to start relying on the chick friend network a little more heavily. I could use a pedicure, manicure, trip to the movies...something, anything.

And I wish my knee could bend further. Or that there was a kitten in the house. Actually, I just wish it were six months from now already and I was up and diving and running already.

I'll get over it, and am actually surprised it took me this long to lose the Pollyanna aspect I've had. Well, it won't be lost, just floundering for a bit. I think part of it was triggered by how hard it was to bend my knee this morning while doing my therapy exercises. It was almost as if it had locked in place, and to even try to slide it back and forth was excruciating. I know, 17 years ago I was still in a cast at this point, and didn't start bending until week 3, with full range of motion achieved by week 5, but I really hope to move it along further, faster, better, sooner.

Ok, vent session over, time to continue forward.

Ciao.

Withdrawal

Yes, I've been quiet -- some might think too quiet, and have cause for worry! But never fear, all is well here now.

I went off of the narcotics this weekend. Despite having stepped down the dosage significantly, I wound up experiencing all of the withdrawal symptoms starting Sunday night (yes, after I finished my paper). I wound up with very little sleep, and multiple trips to the powder room over the following 2 days, and am still experiencing a small bit of the shakes. Oh happy day.

But now that that's winding down, I can drive myself! Woo hoo! Not my cute, sporty Acura, but the Pathfinder. The seats in the Acura are quite low to the ground (not even a worry for me at the time I bought it), so maneuvering in and out is very difficult. Given the amount of work I get to do on the knee in pt, I didn't need the extra hassle.

PT is really kicking in. I can bend my knee beyond 90 degees at this point, although it feels like some serious stretching is going on behind it. I'm working hard at being able to walk, bending the knee. My therapist (sadist!) has me doing all sorts of stuff. I get in to Tripler, take off the knee brace, and start out with 10 minutes of cycling. My great accomplishment this weekend was finally being able to do full revolutions on the pedals rather than just back and forth. After the cycling, more electrical stimulation of my quads -- 20 minutes worth -- coupled with quad presses and leg lifts. I am apparently doing quite well there, with very little lag (knee leading the exercise).

After this, we (we as in he watches, I execute) do heel slides, which don't always go well. Sometimes the knee kind of locks in place, and is very painful. It just doesn't want to move. Not a happy place for me, but I know I shouldn't get too worried. After all, it's only been 2 weeks!

Then it's over to the parallel bars, where I do mini squats and toe raises, attempting to balance equally between both legs, step-ups (lead up with the bad and down with the good) which should eventually be accomplished without holding on to the bars, and balancing on a rubber disc. All this culminates with a 20 minute ice down.

My target goal for removal of the brace is supposed to be standing on the left leg without the brace, bearing full body weight. Eek.

I have to definitely thank the folks at Booz Allen for giving me the short term disability. It has been a Godsend, giving me time to focus on strengthening my quads rather than having to deal with work and pt. I did need a break after 6 months of active duty, but wasn't expecting it to come this way!

Time to get going on my homework, so I'll stop here. I need to feed my constant companions (the koi) and to start roomba so that my other companions' furry remnants get picked up.

Aloha!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Going to Denny's

Well, almost to Denny's...

I was ambitious again this morning pre-therapy, and hungry, so I suggested to Wayne we walk to Denny's, which is a little over a mile away. He gave me the raised eyebrow, but suited up. We set out, and made it to the corner that leads to Wal-Mart (ever the popular joint in this town), Times, Starbucks, and Denny's. I then began to realize that my shoulders were tired! Given that I was more than doubling my farthest jaunt to date, I should have expected that. So, we turned around and headed back to the house. Propelling 170+ pounds around on crutches should start building those upper body muscles, so I think I'll be keeping up the habit and walking further each day.

We did make it to Denny's though, had our egg-beaters and toast, even with the challenge of attempting to sit down at one of the tables. I went to my normal side to sit, and realized that that wasn't quite going to work, so I wound up on the other side with my back to the door. Yuck! Add to the mix my sore shoulders, it was a comedy of errors to watch. First came the crutch placement -- leaning against the leg prop chair. Then I sat down in the chair, only to realize I was going to have difficulty raising my leg under the table. I tried to stand up, but the shoulders were sufficiently sore to leave me still seated. I went to use the table to prop me, and it tilted! So much for that idea. Finally, I just scootched back in my chair and lifted my leg up onto the neighboring chair. Then came getting in closer to the table. Argh. Next time, Starbucks. I can sit on their couch easily, and the chairs are taller! Thank goodness we didn't ask for a booth.

Side note -- Hawaiians will never get any thinner if we keep getting places like Denny's that give you three (!) jumbo eggs for each meal. I'm thinking keiki menu from now on for me!!

Next outing is likely to Roy's in Ko'olina -- sitting outside by the golf course, watching for the black swans, and enjoying heavy pupus for dinner.

Next on the agenda for the day is taking a dose of pain medication, waiting a half an hour, and then doing home pt exercises. Wayne picked up a pedal exerciser for me so that I can do stuff similar to that which is done at the pt clinic -- I start out cycling for 8 minutes out of the brace so I can warm the knee up. Not full rotations as of yet, but I'll get there sooner rather than later. I want to keep ahead of SGT Price and be prepared for the next sessions!

And, no, I haven't finished that paper yet...

Aloha!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Procrastination....

Quiet day for me yesterday, my first day of actual physical therapy (Wednesday was a one on one session outlining my torture regimen) at the hospital. Have to say, it was a wee bit draining (not to mention frightening!). It started with quasi-bicycling (can't do full revolutions, so I just go forward and backward within range of motion), and then migrated to electronic stimulation of the quadricep. Interesting. Of course, the frightening thing was that I did all of my exercises without the brace on. To say I was hesitant to do so might be an adequate description.

Next week, exercises start with weights added, they were easy on me yesterday. SGT Price looks to be my slave driver for the next 4 weeks!

So this morning has been full, did an interview with Defense Investigative Services for a colleague's security clearance update, walked down to the little park at the corner and started to read (finishing up research for my cyberlaw paper), but had to vacate when they started mowing, came home and did my home exercises (am I ever sore!), and am now putting off continuing to read my research. I need to figure out 10 pages of writing for this paper in order to get it finished, so I've got to finish the reading and lay out the order of analysis I'll be integrating into the paper.

It will be a writing weekend!

Right now I'm listening to an alternative group on Morning Becomes Eclectic (a KCRW show/podcast), The Airborne Toxic Event. Name aside, they are quite good, and performing live! I may have to buy their new album, which is just being released overseas today.

All quite effective in avoiding studies!

I'm still excited about recovery from the surgery. The rehab program is astonishingly different than it was when I was 23. Much more aggressive and definitely geared towards someone who will be working the protocol while at home. Wayne is picking up a little gizmo for me tonight from Ace medical -- it's a set of bicycle pedals that fasten to the floor and have variable levels of intensity that you dial in. I know it seems like a frivolous purchase, but if the protocol involves starting/warming up with cycling, I want to try to do it at home as well.

Thousands of random thoughts are going on in my head right now -- I'm actually in quite a good mood, had a good night's sleep, am looking forward to the weekend and having time with friends, and mostly to getting more mobile. I guess that means I ought to stop typing for now, and start cracking the books! :)

After I buy that cd...

Aloha!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Ouch!


So yesterday was my first day of physcial therapy. I had hoped to have a written description of my surgery on hand as I went in, but that was not to be. I got in, filled out the typical threatening form letter given to most Soldiers (if you miss an appointment, we will xyz, your company commander and chain of command will be notified, etc, etc, etc). Funny signing that as a family member as opposed to as a Soldier...I don't thnk the folks at the front desk quite knew how to handle it.

I got in, and much to my surprise, was told that I haven't been over-doing it in my therapy and rehab habits. In fact, I was given more to do. I got my sheet of exercises, did each one at least once, and left pt tired and sore. I was able to bend my knee to a 70 degree angle, though, which was pleasant to find out! It took me until week 3 to be allowed to bend my knee last time, so that was a good thing.

This morning, having conquered the driveway yesterday afternoon, I walked to the park at the end of the block before doing my exercises. Good thing, since I am more than a little exhausted having finished the whole repertoire! I'm wishing for my own ET to get rid of the ouch.

The pictures above are of the inside of my knee and leg during the surgery. Turns out that I have had almost no damage to the knee despite the loss of ligament for over 4 years. I was truly lucky. And I got a good note from my Korean running buddy/roommate, Cheryl, today approving of my surgeon. High words of praise, followed by wishes for good luck during rehab, the hardest part. Of course, Doc is in her 38th week of pregnancy, and any good words should be considered doubly praising!

The two hardest exercises have to be the heel slide, where I bend my knee as far as possible, and the leg lift, where I have to ensure that there is no "lag" when I bring my leg mere inches off the floor. I'm not seeing a lag, but the therapist is, so practice I must.

The new roomba is running, cleaning up the floor, so I will end it here before it yanks the magsafe connector out of my macbook as it cleans. Again, OUCH!

Aloha!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Meet my new friends


Yesterday was a great day -- Wayne and I packed up some food, he packed up his dive gear, and all the support accessories (to include tent, chair, foot prop, iPhone/Pod, and reading material) we would need as we spent the day with friends at the Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park. I was thrilled to be out, contemplating the ocean, and with friends (OUT OF THE HOUSE WOO HOO).

I was warmly greeted and assisted as I made my way to the HUGE canopied area, and everyone made sure to set up my chair in the shade, facing the ocean. We talked story for a bit, and then the others geared up.

I was sad. And envious. But I realized that it was all for the good, and that nine months from now, I will be joining them shore diving. Still, stories of 20 turtles, leaf scorpionfish and nearly incredible visibility for the Trench left me wishing that the surgery had been postponed until after Labor Day. But it was amazing to be able to be out, moving smoothly on the crutches (despite a newly broken toe, don't ask me how), and breathing salt water air. Based on the last time I had this done, I would not have expected it at all.

And then the morning comes. Here it is, September 2nd, fully 8 days post surgery now, and I am heading in shortly for my first pt session. I'm, to borrow a phrase from my brother in law coined two years ago, cautiously optimistic. Pain management is excellent, mobility far greater than expected, and I have a host of new friends/assistants (non-human) this time around to make sure I heal properly.

First is the 12 inch wedge pillow that I use while sleeping. It keeps the knee elevated, and has helped to significantly reduce the swelling. A combination of R-I-C-E is made simpler with this -- I can ease my leg up the pillow and increase the elevation, all while applying ice to the areas that are open in the brace.

The next two items that truly help are my crutches and my shower chair. The crutches are now aluminum (I think), or some other metal. They resist infection much better, are mine to keep (so they don't pass infection along from user to user), much more lightweight, and far more padded. They are also marked for height adjustments so that you don't have to guess where to position the hand holds or leg extension screws. Amazing! Of course, my last surgery was 17 years ago, so things have changed greatly. Either technology has increased or doctors have become more compassionate and understanding. Or is it both? I dunno, but I'm happy either way.

The shower chair has helped eased a great deal of anxiety, and let me shave my legs!! (I know, TMI). After the first surgery, I was in a cast for 2 weeks, so I would put a garbage bag over it, duct tape it in place, and shower, leaning against the wall. I was not allowed to really bear weight on the knee, so I stood, and showered, trying to reach the feet by bending at the waist. Can I tell you that flexibility after surgery is minimal? This time around, I was told to start bearing weight as soon as I could stand it, and was given a removable brace. Once the surgical dressings were removed, I was allowed to shower, but would have to take off the brace.

Can I tell you I was nervous? No brace, new ligament (I'm now 1/100th some other nationality, thanks to my cadaver buddy's achilles tendon), home alone. Enter the shower chair. I can now simply sit on the chair, remove the brace, and swing my leg into the tub to begin the bathing process. I was even able to prop the left leg on the lip of the tub and shave it! But I still can't quite reach the top of my foot for detailed scrubbing, so there's still a wee bit of betadine coloration by the toes. I figure one more scrubbing with the nail brush ought to do it.

Finally, the final items are my family and friends (of the carbon based type). Mom and Dad and Pam have been calling and emailing daily. Their calls got me through that horrible first day post surgery when I wished for Demerol! My friends have sent flowers, emails and called to make sure that I was taken care of and wishing for nothing. And my hubby, Wayne, was great this weekend. He made sure I got out somewhere each day, and didn't do a second dive yesterday, stayed under the tent and kept me company instead.

Annie and Jake arrive shortly to transport me to my pt session, so I'll cut off here. I want to be prepped for my cautiously optimistic outing!

Aloha.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Humbled

That's about the right word. And so soon into the walk! :(

I went out the front door, down the walkway, out the front gate and was confronted by the never before seemed so steep slope of our driveway. Got down it just fine and tooled around our little cul-de-sac, and then thought, "What the heck? Let's walk back up it and see how it goes."

Well, it went, but extremely slowly. I found I couldn't lead with the left leg, I had to lead with the right, and it was a hobbling gait. It took about a minute and a half to get up my little driveway and into the garage.

So much for that great idea! How am I ever going to be as good as Roz Savage if I can't get into the garage? (http://www.rozsavage.com/blog) Roz, as I type, is finishing her cross-Pacific journey, south of Diamond Head (too far south to get a photo from up top), and headed in to the Waikiki Yacht Club, where she will be greeted by fans and admirers.

Oh well. Today we head to Haleiwa Ali'i beach park, and I take on the role of Queen of All That is Dry. Double :( But it will be outside, and away from the house, so it should be good.

Aloha!