"Light 'em up, up, up"

First thing is first--GO HAWKS!  #wegotthecup

Since I last wrote, I have continued to be active and am on a downward trend weight-wise.  I've started using LoseIt again and have been inspired.  I walk to work every day, and I try to walk back if it is not too late when I leave.  So far, I'm down about four pounds in four weeks, which is no big accomplishment but nothing to scoff at either.  Other than walking and volleyball once a week, I have not made a full return to the gym, but I am paying more attention to doing my post-surgery stretches and taking the steps necessary to make sure my hip is ready for what it is about to endure.  I have, however, returned to my previous focus on the kind of food I am eating and the quality/quantity.  I have rediscovered the fun of losing weight, and I can't wait to get back to where I used to be.  In May 2011, I was at my lowest weight--down about 27-30 pounds from where I started in January 2011.  Now, in July 2013, I am still down 17 pounds.  Here's to the next 13 and another 10 or so after that. :)

"Here's to never growing up..."

I hate to admit it, but the new Avril Lavigne song really pumps me up.  Maybe it's the teenybopper sound she has or the way it reminds me of the NSYNC/Backstreet Boys era, when life was simpler, but it immediately cheers me up when I start to think about how serious things can be sometimes.

On a happier note, this weekend was a blast.  I disregarded my diet on Saturday and let loose--enjoying some Chick-Fil-A in Millenium Park with VS and later watching the Blackhawks game at a co-worker's place (which included both red and white sangria :) ).  I made up for it on Sunday when I walked approximately 4 miles from my apartment to my beach volleyball game, to our team after party and then back to my apartment, not to mention the calories I burned while playing said volleyball game.  It's really a pleasure to be back in the game, starting to be active again.  It has a tremendous impact on my outlook and my self-confidence.  I hope running will return to the mix in the same intensity as before, but I'm taking it one step at a time.

Besito,
A

"You'll be in my heart, from this day on, now and forever more."

I am eight months into being in the real world, and I have realized that the hardest part about working is the sense that time is really short.  These days, it often feels like I blink and a week has gone by.  When I was little, I never truly understood what people meant when they talked about time "flying". At that stage in my life, it seemed like it took way longer than 365 days to get from birthday to birthday, from Halloween to Halloween and from the end of summer to the start of the next one.  Now, I feel like hours and days disappear in a flash, and it has really alerted me to the importance of living with a purpose.  Of course, my job often gets in the way of doing the things that I ultimately would like to spend my time doing--laughing until I cry with old friends, spending quality time with family and making a difference in people's lives.  Still, I often replay a moment in which my brother gave me what has to be some of the most important advice I have received--"Don't let your job change who you are."  I have tried to make sure that being an attorney at Big Law LLP doesn't fundamentally alter my being, my outlook, my dreams, my personality, etc., but it's hard.  It's incredibly easy to be sucked into the mix, drink the Kool Aid and lose your sense of self.  Nevertheless, I have recently begun to reach out to my friends, near and far, to try to maintain the friendships I worked so hard to build.  In particular, I have really enjoyed the catch up calls with friends from high school and college, and I hope that I continue to get better and better at keeping in touch with these people.  I just wish that time would slow down a little (or that there could somehow be another 2 hours each day) so that I could spend more time doing the things I want to do and the same or less of the things I need to do but don't really want to do.  In the meantime, I'm keeping everyone in my heart and am taking a little time each day to reach out to the loving circle of friends and family that I am blessed to have.

Un beso muy grande,
A

"The Dirt I Have on You is the Ground."

So, for all of you Nashville fans, I'm not "buried under," as the song indicates, but I am on a new path.  Along with the new job and other new things, I have had to adjust my perspective on working out and dieting, both because of my schedule and because of my lingering hip issues.  Still, I am hopeful.  Last Friday, I was allowed to jog on the treadmill, and I managed to maintain my pace, albeit a slow one, for my full warm-up time.  Even my physical therapist said, "For someone who hasn't run in almost a year, looked great out there!"  Of course, I didn't feel wonderful after it, but, inside, I felt a modest sense of accomplishment. There's obviously a long road ahead, and I remain in doubt as to whether the surgery worked.  However, I'm not letting it get me down...at least, not today.  This weekend I worked out on my own, and I didn't feel any different afterwards than before--so that's something.  Today, I welcome the soreness in my abs that tells me that I did more than just stretch and other silly small things.  While not intending to overdo it, I am planning on going home tonight to see if this running thing is causing me to actually feel better or, at least, the same as when I don't exercise.  Here's hoping...

At the same time, I've decided to give up caffeine unless it comes from tea or unless I absolutely have to have it (e.g., after a long night at the office).  I'm not sure how long or if this will last, but it was helpful the last time I began the process of slimming down, so we'll see.

In any case, just thought I might share this small stream-of-consciousness post with y'all before I leave for India on Friday.  If I don't post again before I depart, happy holidays, and best wishes for a happy new year.

See you on the flipside!

Beso,
A

"My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to."

I've been avoiding posting for a little too long, mostly because I don't want to have to memorialize what's going on right now.  I'm not going to fully rehash the details of everything, but, suffice it to say, much of my world has been turned upside down. The combination of all that is going on has hardened me a little and caused me to overflow with emotions I didn't realize I even had.  It's been very difficult to grasp, and, at times, I question whose life it is I'm living.  On the one hand, I am so fortunate to have so many supportive and loving people in my life and to not struggle with many of the challenges others face on a daily basis.  On the other hand, I am entering a new normal, both in regards to my health and my worldview.  For some of you reading this, you may be wondering about the non-health-related changes that have occurred since I last posted, and, if you feel so inclined, inquire.  While it's something I don't really want to delve into, I am happy to share with those who don't already know.

In the meantime, I'm trying to take each day as it comes and find the joy in little things. For example, I was quite proud to watch the Dores go 8-4 and set all kinds of school records last night.  They make me proud.  At the same time, it reminded me of how much easier and happier things seemed when I was in college.  But, c'est la vie. As the saying goes, "this too shall pass."  It's just a question of how long it takes and whether it changes me (forever).

On that note, I'm going to turn back to watching football and doing work. Not bad for a Sunday after the kind of week I've had.

-Double A

"Settle down, it'll all be clear. Don't pay no mind to the demons..."

They fill you with fear.

As many of you know from talking to me, so much has happened recently.  Even as a list, it looks ridiculous, and a list could not possibly capture everything.  Nevertheless, since graduating from law school in early May, I have done the following:

1. Moved from my apartment in Savoy to a friend's apartment
2. Studied for the bar
3. Taken the bar
4. Moved from my friend's apartment to my parents' house
5. Toured NYC with my mom
6. Gone on Birthright (10 days in Israel)
7. Attended a law school friend's wedding in San Francisco
8. Did a public interest law fellowship, working with low-income clients.
9. Had surgery
10. Searched and ultimately found an apartment in Chicago
11. Shopped for things to fill #10
12. Continued to recover (this means: physical therapy twice a week, biking two hours a day, stretches, and follow-up visits to the surgeon and a rheumatologist)

The stuff above is both exciting and exhausting. It also means that pretty much everything has been a blur.  This surgery has given me a lot of time to slow down and relax a little while catching up with friends and family.  For that, I'm incredibly grateful.  I truly don't know when I'll ever have time like this again after I start my job.  Don't get me wrong...I am very excited to start my job.  Nevertheless, I'm trying to make the most of these last few weeks, including my upcoming vacation to Riviera Maya.  I can't wait to sit on a beach and just relax with VS.  Should be pretty great.

Still, I remain concerned, as the title of this post suggests, about my post-op condition.  It's really hard to say whether I am getting better or staying the same or, G-d forbid, feeling worse.  At this point, I'm walking without a crutch and/or a brace, but it is somewhat painful.  I can't tell whether any of this is normal or, if not, what it means.  I've seen a rheumatologist about the inflammation they found in my tissue during surgery, and, despite all of the blood work and a chest x-ray, they still don't know what's going on with me.  For the moment, the diagnosis is inflammatory arthritis, which means nothing.  It just says that I have inflammation in my blood without any other explanation--no lupus or osteo/rheumatoid arthritis.  The doctor said that this is a good thing in the long run, but it also means that the treatment could be hit or miss since it's not a textbook case of anything.  Oh goodie.  Still, I'm trying to stay positive.  I'm doing everything I can to make sure that this surgery is successful.  I just hope it's enough...

As I said, I'm tired.

Besito,
A

"Something Good This Way Comes"

Post-op day 9.  Good news...I have just returned from my post-op appointment, and I have been instructed to wean myself off the crutches and lose the brace by Wednesday (two weeks post-op).  I am also no longer required to cover the incision spots (three one-cm slits).  I am very thrilled to be making this kind of progress.  Of course, it remains to be seen what will happen with the inflammation they found and whether I am fully better post-op than pre-surgery.  I truly hope that this is the beginning of something really good, not just a temporary jump in my subjective sense of things.  In any case, just wanted to share the good news.

More updates soon, hopefully.

Besito,
A