Flying South

I've been seeing a lot of this lately:

I must live and work in the flight path of Canadian Geese who head south for the winter. It started a couple weeks ago when I was in bed one morning and heard them honking as they flew over my house. Since then, I've seen several groups fly by my office window (I'm on the 5th flow so they are easy to spot). Just another reminder that fall is here!

A Few Updates

1. You will be relieved to know that I have found Alison. I've called off the search party and I thank everyone who helped me look for her. She did in fact see my blog posting and responded by posting a comment on my Facebook wall. We are so 2009! Of course, I have yet to get back to her...but I will! And we WILL have dinner some night. I swear.

2. I'm going on day six of less back pain. I tell you folks...it's a miracle! I am virtually pain free right now. I never thought it would be possible. Yes, I do think the exercises I learned have helped, but you know what I think it really was? I had my office chair set to recline, so my back was extended all day long. For eight hours a day, I was in the position that caused me the most pain. I don't know why I didn't think of changing it before, but I honestly think that was a huge contributing factor to my pain. I still have one more class to go to, but I think I may be cured!

3. Remember this post? I had gotten this home placed with a video feature on the KRON-TV website so I thought I'd share it with you. Check it out for yourself! The agent is actually reading a portion of the column I wrote about the house. Oh, and here's another one I did that you might like.

While I'm tooting my own horn, I wanted to tell "Wine Chick," a friend of Dan's and one of my newest readers, that I had actually done the PR for this home. (Make sure you take the time to look at the pictures. Amazing!) I was driving through Pacific Heights with a few of Dan's friends awhile ago and I mentioned that I had just done PR for that house and they said; "really? Wine Chick (not her real name) just posted it on Facebook and said she wished she had $10 million to buy it." Sorry Wine Chick! Had I known you at the time, I totally would have hooked you up with a tour!

4. This is by far my most favorite video right now. I want to watch it over and over again, every minute of every day. I just can't get enough!

Whoa

I saw this video today and that it was cool...but weird. Click here. Wait for the parakeets to come in. It's the best part!

Bliss

My computer was slow to load this morning, hence my thought: I wonder if this is a real photograph. If so, I bet whoever took it made a lot of money.

Back Class

Well, I attended my first back class today. I say first because the instructor/physical therapist is making me go to at least two more classes. After that, I may have to graduate to the masters program, which is seeing a physical therapist one-on-one.

So, what did I learn today? you ask. I learned that I am currently failing the proper positions for: sitting, standing, getting in the car, getting out of the car, lying down, sitting on the couch, getting in bed, getting out of bed, brushing my teeth, pulling, pushing, leaning, bending, turning, picking stuff up and all in all...avoiding pain. I am getting an "F" in pain free living.

The good news is that there is hope. And that hope better fulfill itself before I turn out like the other 15 or so people in that class. I'm tellin' ya, they were in WAY worse shape than me. Even the dumb 18 year old chick who got in trouble for texting walks as stiff as a board. Younger is not always better. I feel sorry for the people who have resorted to shots, acupuncture and regular physical therapy sessions. A lot of people have numb legs too. That totally freaks me out. I just hope I get better before that happens to me. I'm not sure what my next classes are for, but I think I'll be learning certain stretches to help. If I'm good, maybe that will bump me up to a solid C.

Immediate action plan:

• Stop running on hills
• No more sitting on the couch (hopefully just temporary)
• Sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees or on my back with a pillow under my knees. No more tummy sleeping.
• Buy an SUV so I don't have to bend down to get in my shorty car.
• Use the "hip hinge" method to bend or lean - spread legs apart and lean from hips
• Adjust my office chair so it doesn't lean back.
• Eat dinner. It won't help my back, but I'm starving.

I'll keep you posted on my studies.

Have You Seen This Woman?

Name: Alison
Sex: Female
Age: 35...just kidding! 31
Height: Kinda short
Weight: None of your business
Hair: Red...and I mean RED!
Eyes: Green...right?
Last seen: End of July at La Pinata for dinner
Distinguishing characteristics: Great smile, sharp wit, incurable workaholic, funny sense of humor, snazzy dresser, and excellent partner in crime

It's been awhile since I've seen Alison and it's about time we got together for dinner to catch up. I'm hoping she'll see this blog and give me a call. Sure I could call her myself, but what's the fun in that? Alison, if you're out there...I miss you! Let's dish...

Beef Wellington

Have I mentioned that Dan likes to cook? He's been wanting to try to make Beef Wellington for awhile now. It was supposed to be my Valentine's dinner but, since I was so sick at the time, it got postponed. He finally decided Saturday would be the night. Here's how it went.

(I got him that gorilla apron from the San Diego Zoo)

Yummy!

Can't have a nice dinner without a nice table setting

So Sweet

Heard this from a friend today and thought it was sweet:

Boy and girl go on a date. Things go great. Lots of chemistry. Lots of potential. She LIKES him. They spend the next day texting while they should be working. He asks her out again for that night. She says yes. Butterflies. And he says to her; "I want to talk to you everyday, but I have to stop myself from calling because I don't want to bother you."

Cheesy? Player? Or just a sweet guy being honest and vulnerable? I choose to believe the latter. Maybe I'm gullible, or just a romantic. Either way, I hope it works out for her.

I've Got Class

I've been out of school for years, but I signed up for two very different types of classes today. The first is a writing class because if I don't start investing some time in writing something a little more creative than press releases, as much as I do love my job, I may go insane. My intermittent entries on this blog just aren't doing the trick anymore. The second is a back class to help get rid of the lower back pain I've had for the past three months. Hopefully they'll teach me how to stop sitting at my desk like a twisted pretzel.