Vegas Baby!

After I got up off the floor(see previous post), I really needed to hit the blog. We just got back from two weeks vacation.

I highly recommend two weeks at a time, especially if travel time and "recovery" is needed. We live in Maryland, and went to Las Vegas, toured some of Arizona and finished with a few days back in Vegas. We stayed at the MGM Grand the first week with a plan to decide on the hotel for the end of our trip later. Our reservation was incorrect and we were upgraded that night. It was still incorrect, so they upgraded us again in the morning. We were transferred to a "Hollywood Suite" on the ground floor - right off the casino floor on a secure hallway. It was palatial. Luckily I did not pee myself when the bellman opened the door and showed us in, it was that amazing.

Folks automatically think of gambling when you say Las Vegas - we only bet on the NASCAR races. There is so much more to do. We went to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a day at the Neon Garage to see the cars and drivers up close and take pictures. I even had a private moment with my favorite driver I'll always remember. We went to the Shelby427 Nextel Cup race too, and while I didn't pick the winner, I won one of my bets! (that my driver would beat his teammates) You can bet on lots of things in Vegas.

Then there were the shows. Our first show was Ka from Cirque du Soleil at our hotel. That show with it's ever changing stage was worth the trip. Then we saved lots of money using Tix 4 Tonight. They didn't carry everything we wanted to see, but for up to half price plus 10% with a coupon it was worth a trip downstairs or across the street. With their service we saw another Cirque show LOVE (click video tour up top) an amazing show inspired by the music of the Beatles. Then there was The Vegas version of Phantom at the Venetian from Tix. It was a bit shorter than the Broadway show to do away with intermission, and the overall did not suffer. We hit Crazy Horse Paris at the MGM which was an all female review of perfectly matched body type women plus a few unique acts in a small theater a la strip joint. They weren't the feathered showgirls, but I had to admire their precision.

We ate rather moderately in Vegas this trip, with no big casino dinners. Instead we hit some great local fare and chains we don't have at home. Places like Cozymels, (twice!) where our waiter David made fabulous guacamole tableside. Or the Italian Buca di Beppo - famous for double portions to be served family style and split. And Memphis Championship Barbecue really deserves the trophies in the case that back up that claim. We also favored the 24 hr Studio Cafe at the MGM with reliable service and good food for several breakfasts and a lunch. Their Ruben was the best I've ever had. We checked out In-N-Out Burgers and I also made several pilgrimages to Jack In The Box. Jack's was a favorite of mine from High School and was the first drive through with "talk to the clown" in our neighborhood. My best friend and I still talk about it.

There was other stuff of course, but let's go on to Arizona, shall we?

We took off the south route to Grand Canyon, marveling at the desert and the mountains. The two days there was a trip back in time, to when I was 5 and my family drove across the US in a station wagon. I found myself choking up big time, even in the gift shop. Srsly. But the wind. The WIND! It was the first week of March and we expected temperatures in the forties, but the WIND!

I lost a hat over the edge.

Then it was off to Monument Valley in Navajo Nation. That is where John Ford filmed many of his Westerns with John Wayne. Movies like Stagecoach, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Movies I used to watch with my Dad. Seeing those sculpted red rocks rising out of the earth for no apparent reason was just as sobering as the split earth we had left behind. Our hotel The View, was perched on a cliff and has only been open since December. The feel of the place was very spiritual and our pictures are amazing.

Next we headed south for a bit of historic Route 66, stopping for a night in Flagstaff before heading back to Vegas. We even managed a movie and shipped a box of laundry home from there.

North now to cross Hoover Dam, where Bobby spotted some Big Horn Sheep as we emerged from the mountains. We toured it the last time we were in Las Vegas, but were surprised to see they are now building the Hoover Dam Bypass. It was interesting to see the two sides of the span working towards the middle.

Back to Las Vegas. Back to Tix 4 Tonight. Vegas is also known for magic, and we saw two shows. Lance Burton is talented but quite dated and needs a smaller venue so the empty seats aren't so noticeable. Still, after I got past his canned patter, the show had a few good "howtheheck?"s. But Penn & Teller kicked his butt. Part of the butt kicking is delivery, but even the tricks they explain are pure . . . magic. After the show they have a meet and greet. I'm not much of an autograph hound, but I happened to have a 3 of clubs in my scooter pocket and Teller signed it "Is this your card?". Very cool. Finally, we closed our Vegas vacation with the dozens of feathered ladies and the muscled men of Folies Bergere at The Tropicana. We were fortunate to see them in their last month and were sad to hear they were closing after 49 years - the longest running show on The Strip. All those shows. And with the discount, we could get the better tickets. Yes, we liked Tix 4 Tonight.

A Huge Milestone

Last week, I got up off the floor. All by myself, I got up off the floor. That is something I had not been able to do for oh, let's say three years. I did a really dumb thing in my bedroom and as a result took a tumble. To make matters worse, I did not have my brace on - which, as you can imagine, contributed to the initial gymnastic part of this story. I've been practicing getting up in PT, but have not been successful because my new brace doesn't allow me any purchase with my right foot at the toes. I only have the tip of my right toe down to push on that side. An almost 300 lb ballerina I ain't. So I took a different approach, and without sweating the details, I put the brace foot up first and the trumpets sounded. Confetti flew and streamers descended. Thousands of doves were released into the skies. Okay, a sparrow flew by.

But, my Physical Therapist cried and Bobby took me out for a celebratory pizza.
________________________________________________________

18 months and I'm still slugging away at Physical Therapy.

I wonder if that's some kind of record? Without my physical therapist, I'd still be on the floor. Heck, I'd still be unable to walk into a restaurant, or escort my Aunt up to her apartment on foot, or simply have the balance to carry a knitting bag or a purse and still be able to open a door. She has worked with me through new skills and fast progress to building strength and endurance as we tackle even bigger goals. I believe a lot of people reach a plateau, run out of insurance or money, or just plain give up. My therapist says as long as she sees progress, she will treat me.



And they say the medical profession has gotten jaded and lost it's heart.

Gee, where does the time go?

Life is good.

The week before Christmas 2007 was my last radiation treatment. The week before Christmas 2008, my blood counts were finally normal and I took my last antibiotic, which ended all chemical treatment. I also had a terrific follow up MRI of my brain but I will continue to see my Oncologist for follow up and MRIs every 2 months. I'm getting back to normal, whatever that is. I just have to remember what to do with myself.

In Physical Therapy I've worked hard for over fifteen months and have almost reached my maximum potential. Then I have to find a gym for maintenance. (eeek!) In a way, I am in better shape than I have been for a very, very long time. Balance. Strength. Stamina. Cardiovascular status. I'm stiff and creaky in the mornings or when I've been sitting, but when I get warmed up . . .

I CAN

• Do sit ups, press ups, and stand ups(without holding on to something)
  
• Stand without a cane near a corner and kick a ball with my therapist, changing feet and aiming like a soccer star
• Catch and throw! Fast! While maintaining eye contact with my therapist!
  
• Pull 8 lbs of weights in three different directions
• Walk an average of 14 minutes on the treadmill
  
• Walk backwards
• Stand on my feet or shop in a store up to an hour without collapsing
  
• Load my scooter in and out of my car by myself, even on a windy day in the cold (a HUGE goal)
  

Everybody wishes folks a "happy and healthy New Year". Yeah yeah yeah.

I hope you tackle something you've been wanting to, but never thought you could.

No matter how small it seems.

For Sherry !

New Brace

So.

I picked up my new leg brace and shoes last week. “Carbon Fiber” he says. “Lighter than your old brace” he says. “Any color you want” he says. “You can buy regular shoes, even tennis shoes” he says.

I told him Princess Pink.

Shoes! I gotta buy shoes. Lots of shoes! And socks. I haven’t worn socks for years. My old brace and boots are lined with sheepskin and socks wouldn’t slide so … no socks. I dreamed of gliding into a room and doing pirouettes. “See that graceful woman in her new shoes? Aren’t her socks lovely? OMG! She’s wearing a designer Princess Pink brace”.

~~~~~~~~~~~enter reality zone~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Old brace = 4.5 lbs
New brace = 4 lbs

Old footwear = delicious handmade custom leather boots in two shades of rich brown, laced up the side ankle high with deer antler buttons. Very cool.

New footwear = Black orthopedic oxfords. Not cool.

And while the pink is certainly Princess, the straps are NEON.

I haven’t checked yet, but they may glow in the dark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So.

*Princess* and I are actually getting along better than I thought we would. I stand straighter, walk better, my feet don't hurt, etc. But when I take her off? Aaaauuuggghhhh! My muscles and tendons are going through a tortuous period of adjustment right now, as expected. My physical therapist is gleefully plotting new tortures as I type.

The basic clunky black shoes are because I'm just getting used to the brace and the new balancing act. Once that is second nature, I get to go back to Mr Very Nice Shoe Guy again for a look at something a little more stylish. yay. As for the socks, can't stand 'em. I have reeeeeeally huge calves and it's hard to find knee highs so I've got orthopedic white Dr Scholls socks that diabetics wear. They're adequate, comfortable and reasonable. I wear an anklet on one side and a knee high under the brace. I have no desire to knit custom socks however (never have understood the fascination). I've worn a brace for 17 years and for me, thick is necessary for protection against straps and nerve damage.

But I am walking better. Straighter. .5 lb lighter.

The neon is growing on me.

What a Year.

One year ago today I had brain surgery.

I had to wait nine days to find out I had cancer. But I knew. The last year has been the roller coaster I was warned about. But really, it looked like this.


I didn't start at 100 percent. Walking with a brace and cane, loosing cognitive brain function and feeling like something was wrong didn't exactly feel like I was on top of my game. First there was a steroid "high". Then the steroids began to affect the muscles of my legs making walking very difficult. The sharp dips are the weeks after chemo once radiation was over when the fatigue was the worst. Those weeks I was guilty of missed and canceled appointments at times. I slept a lot. Everything hurt.

But look at the tail of that graph. I coasted a while then Up Up Up ! Slow and Steady wins the race. My physical therapist and I invent new ways to challenge my muscles. We look at practical needs like loading and unloading my scooter out of the car - what motions are needed for that? What muscles need to be stronger? How will my balance be affected? She's very inventive and lets me give a lot of input. And guess what? I'm up to 23 minutes on the treadmill. Now, do be aware that is under a controlled pace with no distractions. And that 23 minutes was my all time high (my times fluctuate a bit). Y'a know my heart is in better condition now than it ever was due to the workout three times a week plus home exercise most other days.

It's been a roller coaster. I've always loved roller coasters. I know it's a figure of speech, but I was mostly aware of what I was in for. I paid to get on. There have been some scary turns but I actually had fun without screaming at all. My legs are a little wobbly getting off this ride, but I didn't puke and maybe I'll get the tee shirt in the gift shop.

Hey!

Remember all my references to The Wizard of Oz?

There's no place like Home.

Walkin' and Singin'

I have been walking into buildings.

Opening doors and walking right in without scooter wheels under me. Since I found out I can walk 10-12 minutes on a treadmill, I started with walking into restaurants (with seats I can trust) and running small errands. I've been to my Ophthalmologist, Target, Office Depot, shopping for glasses (groan), even to the Mall once. When I saw that the shop at the Mall would be close enough to walk, Bobby took my scooter back to the car and I walked the rest of the way. The walk back to the car was slow and steady and I even took a brief detour into another store. Look out 2012 Olympic Marathoners! I did discover one thing though. The floors at the mall are H-A-R-D and very different from using a treadmill. Keeping an even pace was difficult, but that will come with more practice.

I wish I had the incentive to become a Mall Walker, but for five minutes out and five minutes back? Booooring. Maybe down the line. Perhaps a different incentive place to walk for my non-PT days. I need to find somewhere with a decent walk, a place to knit, and comfy chairs I can trust for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then I might do it more often and keep this body moving.

Slow and steady wins the race.

In other news, we went to see two groups we really like in one night at Wolf Trap recently. It was a fabulous night of music. I couldn't figure out who would be opening for whom. Great Big Sea was first and rocked the house. Bounce Bounce Bounce! Gimme lots of mandolin, fiddle, bodhran and penny whistles and I can't help singing. Many of their songs are intentionally catchy with great choruses. The song England by Sean McCann from their album Fortune's Favor made me sob however. His voice filled the hall, strong and clear since he wrote it from his own heart, a poignant tale of early English settlers to a New-found-land.

Then it was time for the changeover to the more eclectic Eddie From Ohio.Everything from Blues & Gospel to Social Comentary and Comedy. After the boisterous Great Big Sea, they seemed positively sedate, although they are truly far from that. It's just that their music doesn't inspire bouncing or dancing in the aisles. At one point Michael Clem, on bass, raised his hands over his head to encourage the crowd to clap along with the song. It just sputtered out unfortunately. I was embarrassed for them. It was like a comedian who keeps saying "I said, are you having a good time?". But they were great. Srsly. And they sang my all time favorite song of theirs Tom Burleigh's Dead. It's an odd song, but I love the chorus and belting it out in the car.

Then Bobby surprised me with Les Miserables tickets. I noticed the production when we went to GBS and EFO. About two weeks later he said we were had something to do Friday night and took me on a long and twisted drive ending up on the Dulles Toll Road. My heart skipped a few beats and I thought he was kidnapping me to Vegas. After all, he knows how to pack for us. But no, he said I had appointments and he wouldn't do that. Drat! That would be soooo cool. Instead it was back to Wolftrap, but for what I wondered? Sure enough, the famous poster of Cosette was at the entrance with a warning of gunfire in the second act. I was quite delighted, especially since Bobby had said it wasn't his kind of show when we were there previously.

All the while he was plotting a musical feast for me.

It. Was. Fabulous. The actor playing Jean Valjean was very good although he didn't have the clear high range necessary for Bring Him Home. Fantine and Cosette were both delightful, and I really hate most sopranos. The Thenardiers were suitably amusing. But the despicable Javert stole the show. My Gawd, what a voice and stage presence. And the rest of the company was so talented. It was as if each one had the lead role and all eyes were on them. The staging was simpler than the Broadway version of course with no moving circular stage, but I didn't miss it except for the song Turning (hee hee). I am still finding myself tumbling Les Miz songs in my head.

My husband. He loves me.