Flora, Fauna, and Food

Hibiscus 

Flowers they use to make leis. 

Lily pad flower unopened and opened. 

Eel. Ick. 

Some orange-beaked bird. And another bird and another. 

Huge koi and a monster koi. 

Coffee plant with a close up picture, too. 

The flakiest, tenderest, tastiest fish and chips I've ever had. (We've had a lot so we should know.)

Rib eye, hamakua mushrooms, mahimahi, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, baby chard. A huge portion - this is only half the order. Hubby had the other half. And I didn't finish mine.

Ice team with lemon? Nope, they served it with pineapple.

Pupu platter. Kilauea BBQ wings, kalua pork quesadilla, Maui wowie onon rings.

PT in HI

For me to be able to take this trip I had to be motivated to keep up with my physical therapy. And motivated I am.

Today's physical therapy in Hawaii consisted of:
Treadmill, 22 minutes, almost 3/4 mile.

(Treadmill view, 6:00 AM)


Bike 15 minutes.

Morning walk to the beach.

A swim in the infinity pool.

An afternoon walk to the beach.


Yep, got my PT in HI. In Waikoloa on the Big Island to be exact. Anyone would be motivated to rebuild the strength in their knee here!

A Day of Clues

Long live my suck-the-marrow life.

Today is a set of clues with new pictures posted throughout the day. Keep checking back!

Clue #1, 6:07 AM

Clue #2, 7:48 AM

Next clue...ever see an airport like this? 

Clue #4...Different shades of lava flows with the ocean in the background.

Clue...open-air hotel lobby.

Ever see such a gorgeous place to stay and play for a week? Any guesses where we are sucking the marrow? Clue...no passports required.

You're Right Debbie, I Can Do It!

I had gone my whole life without knowing or even meeting another person named Debbie. Even at work, for years I was the only Debbie. But not anymore. Now the school district where I work has four Debbies. Four working at the same place in one tiny town.

This post goes to one of the Debbies - Debbie D. - and the crew who thinks I'm doing great. Thank you! Despite my complaining I know I can make it through with the knee. Just look what has happened with my weight loss over the last three months.

Over the course of the last seven months I've managed to have lost 122 pounds (as of today). Thanks to all the Debbies and non-Debbies who cheer me on!

Whiny Monday Morning

When my alarm went off early this morning it jolted me awake. I'd had another rough night tossing and turning with an achy knee. And a bawling cat that wanted outside. And a snoring hubby. And a hot bedroom.

I sat there on the edge of the bed after the alarm jolt. Sat there for quite some time, my head full of negative thoughts.
Why me?
Why do I have to be in pain all the time?
Why is this knee taking so long to get better?
How come I'm the only one that has to work so hard to just function normally?
How is it that at the age of 49 I've already had 12 surgeries?
Why do I have to go to physical therapy?
Why do I have to work so hard at physical therapy?

I'm tired.
I'm tired of pain.
I'm tired of working.
I'm tired of working through the pain.
I don't know if I can do it anymore.

It's not fair.

Despite the thoughts in my head before my feet touched the ground, I got up, got dressed, and got to therapy. I did all my required work with a cheery imposition. No one would have known about those few minutes of negativity that faced me earlier in the day.

Yes, I'm tired. But I can do it. The pain lessens a bit every day. The joint is healing - and muscles are strengthening - at a faster rate than the last time 'round. All this pain and hard work is going to pay off in a big way. I'm going to have two good knees for the first time in 30 years. (5 of my 12 surgeries have been on my knees.)

Pity party over. No more whining.

Especially no whining on Wednesday. That day is going to rock! It'll be almost as cool as my scar. Awesome, right?