High School Reunion

So I went home to North Carolina this weekend. Since I was using my hard-earned frequent flier miles, I decided to stretch the weekend to 4 days, and the weekend started on Thursday. I wasn't so excited about the 10-year reunion. In my mind, not enough time has passed for people to mature, for cliques to disban, etc. My friend Sonni was WAY EXCITED about going, so I figured that if I didn't go, I might actually miss out on something.

Thursday and Friday was spent tooling around with my mom and grandmother. I got to see my college roommate and her husband on Friday for lunch, then Friday night, Mom and I walked over to Freedom Park for the annual Festival in the Park. Its lots of local artisans and food vendors, and neat gift vendors all wrapped around a decent size lake. It was a perfect night, and mom and I discovered Kettle Corn. yum.

Saturday, I had a hankering for Mokoto's (A Japanese Steakhouse in my college town), so Mom, GM, and I met my sister (who had the same hankering) and her three kids up in Boone for lunch and some sightseeing and picture taking on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then it was back home (2 hours both ways) to get ready for the big reunion.

I didn't have any expectations for the night, so I wasn't disappointed. It was nice to see some old familiar faces, but were there any long lost friendships renewed? No. If there was a prize for most changed... it would have had to be me. In high school, I would have cared too much about appearances to be the first one on the dance floor. NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE... yeah, yours truly was the first one on the dancefloor... with all the eyes on me... gawking, smiling, laughing, even some envious looks... in ten years I have come to the conclusion... who gives a crap what these people think? I definitely won't see them for at least another 10 years (if ever). I had fun on the dancefloor. I hope some people had fun watching me make a fool of myself.

One doctor down... one Physical Therapist to go

So, the news today, is that I have officially graduated from my hand surgeon's care. He doesn't want to see me until next year !!!!! He was happy with what he saw today, and I am released. He says that I can quit PT as well, but I'm not quite ready to break those ties yet. Next steps are off to the gym, and then I'll check in with Mary at PT. If I can regain the strength and endurance, I will be happy!!


Hallelujah!!! Two surgeries/recovery time within 10 months= no fun
September 18, 2006= one very happy ERIN!!!

Physical Therapy

So, I went to Physical Therapy yesterday... That in itself is not blog-worthy, but the fact that I have now been ordered to hit the gym is!! yuck. I hate the gym. I have graduated to weight-bearing exercises... yippee!! I might get my arms back! I have had wrist surgery on both of my wrists (left wrist in December, right wrist in June). The atrophy has kicked in. bigtime. I have flabby arms with no definition. Now I have to go to the gym and bring the arms back. I am excited about the prospect of having strength again... Not Xena- Princess Warrior strength, but basic strength. I want to hold my littlest nieces and nephews without feeling like I'm going to drop them, and I want to be able to hold the kids that I will someday have.

If you see me in the gym, please don't laugh.

Baby Frenzy

So this past weekend was a baby frenzy... On Saturday, I got to babysit my adorable baby niece for a couple of hours. Its hard not to sit and just stare at her... I definitely have some things to learn before I become a mom one day... For one thing, I have to learn the difference between COLD and room temperature bottles... oops. She was a very good 3 month old... Thanks for not scaring me away!!

Saturday night was spent at Babies R US.... too many cute things there. You could definitely walk out of there with baby fever... The store itself is a little overwhelming... but still fun to think about.

On Sunday, I went to my friend Christina's baby shower. She is due in October, and she got some great gifts. She is ALL baby... that right there gives me pause. I know when my time comes... I will not be all baby... Its just not that easy for me. I think she's having a boy... Steve thinks a girl. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Farewell Summer

So today is Labor Day... The end of the summer. As I look back, its been a pretty decent summer. There are always some regrets, but for better or worse, here's the recap of my summer:

1. We went to a Red Sox game this summer
2. We have another beautiful baby niece
3. I had wrist surgery.. again
4. I had 20 Physical Therapy appointments this summer
5. I went to Toledo and Orlando for work.
6. I went to Aruba for play
7. My sister and her kids stayed with us for a week!
8. We went to see Chris Isaak and Anna Nalick
9. Lots of weekends in the pool (cast and all!)
10. We went home for Steph and Ben's wedding reception
11. I went to Nashville for a girls' weekend
12. We've been up to Maine quite a few times...
13. I've reconnected with a few old friends.

Not bad, eh? The fall is looking up as well. For one thing... I'm out of wrists to operate on! I've got lots of trips planned already, and more that have yet to be planned work-wise. I love the fall colors... the costumes, pumpkins and apple pickin'. So, here's to a great summer, and hopefully an even better fall!

ASU Football thoughts...

So, I watched The Longest Yard last night. Pretty decent movie with Adam Sandler as a convict who organizes a football team of convicts against the very people that control them (the guards). While pretty funny, it did give me pause when Adam's character recalls his glory days at Florida State and that their strategy for a successful season was to start their season by "whipping an overmatched opponent like Appalachian State" . OK, I'm not a big football fan, but don't be dissing on my alma mater. The Appalachian State football team brought home the 2005 NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship, thank you very much.

Now, that being said.. I wish them another winning season. They start their season today against NC State. My cousin and I have a friendly wager on this game. Come on APP, do me proud today! Shut the Wolfpack down.

9/3/06
.... ok, so they ended up losing.. and I owe my cousin a beer. Thanks ASU.