Book Review

While I've been running around like crazy I listened to another running book.

 

"At least he never walked"

And his most famous quote:

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” 
― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Credit Goodreads.com

It was a pretty good book.  I had started it earlier and was unable to finish so I started over again.  It is only around 8 hours long and a real easy listen.  Mr Murakami is an author that during the time of writing this book was moving around from Hawaii, Tokyo and the Northeast of the United States. He runs daily and runs a marathon at least once a year. 

In one story he talks about running in Greece the original marathon route only from Athens to Marathon instead of Marathon to Athens.  He was doing it as part of a magazine article so there would be press there but that is about it.  He was also doing it in intense heat.  Haruki was surprised to learn that most people that commit to running it for press usually just take a few pictures and run a little and not actually do it.  He was determined to finish and in the heat it was a killer.  The way he described what I call the "hate run" is spot on.  You know those runs where something or everything is just not right and your mind just gets hateful.  Hateful at the birds, people passing by and by anything else that pops into your mind.  He finishes the run because Mr. Murakami has an strong set of principles.

He also talks about the little things that running teaches him and the big things.  He credits running for his success in writing.  He also states that doing one ultra marathon was enough for him.  The book itself almost helped me understand in concrete thoughts why I was a runner. 

Definitely a great read.  I would be interested in reading some of his other work that has been translated.    

Have you read anything by Haruki Murakami?
Have you read this book?
Did you like it?

Speaking of books, if you get a chance zip over to this blog:

  Running, Writing and Chasing The Dragon

A blog by writer Mark Matthews.  I stumbled onto his blog and started following it because of his running.  I continued to catch up whenever he posted because his writing is creative, interesting and entertaining.  Even when he is doing a quick running blog post I admire how easy and entertaining it is to read.  

I just ordered one of his books off Amazon for my Kindle app. 

The Jade Rabbit

 

I'm excited to read it and will review it when I'm done.  

Blog on..........

Done and done.

The surgery is done.  What a great day it was.  Lots of good (legally given) drugs were used and I'm Super OK with that!

I went to Cottonwood Surgery Center in Murray and they are awesome there.  They take what my insurance pays even though they are out of network.  Giving me the same discount as if I was in network.  

Here is the star of the show:

Dr. Preece

I promised him it wouldn't end up on Facebook!  I felt super comfortable in his care.

Signature on the leg.

Pain spots.  Marks so he can really pinpoint the most pain and scar tissue.

Look, I even painted my toes and shaved my legs.  Fancy.

It was weird being rolled into the OR and getting on the OR bed and my arms going out on the holders.  Then those magic words, "I just gave you something to relax you".  I don't remember one thing after that until they woke me up and I was feeling FINE!

First look at the boot

Daniel was a trooper and waited for me and came back after I was done.

Amber.  What a great nurse!  She took awesome care of me.

Ready to go with all my take-homes.

 Free gift to go!

I couldn't eat the crackers but the cup is cool and it came with some tea.

Healing begins.  Iced and elevated.

Made homemade almond milk last night and a big glass of it was perfect for an after surgery refresher.

New Jammies number ONE

The surgery center send me home with these handy little SCD type devices.  They are small but are designed to keep blood flow going and prevent Blood clots.  They were fine at first but they kinda pop and I would be falling asleep and then POP and it would scare me a little.

Handy little device!

While I was having surgery my shoes came!

I have been wearing my Mizuno's for about 3 months everyday and thought it would be good with the surgery to get some new shoes that are good and stable. I found these sweet Saucony's on clearance!  Boom!

So I spend the first 48 hours laying around and keeping my foot elevated.  Icing and medicating.  The only bad thing about Percocet is that I don't sleep well on them.  So far pain is well controlled with minimal meds. 

I'm even been able to stick with Whole30 thanks to Daniel and some pre-made delights.  I feel pretty good and have great hopes that this surgery will help me.  

Now, what do I do for the next few days?

Blog on..................

Today is the day!

Today is my Tenex procedure.
I'm not too worried about the procedure itself, just hoping that it helps.  I'm also hungry.  Not too hungry.  Day 22 on Whole30 has me burning the fat and not the quick carbs and so I don't feel like I'm going to pass out starving.  

Here is the post about Tenex.

I shaved my legs, painted my toenails and ran my Virtual Jelly Bean race yesterday so I would say I'm set to go!

Pink shoes and Turquoise top for the Jelly Effect.

I had so much to do to get all my stuff together for this, it's been a struggle.  I'm hoping to catch up on all the fun things I want to share on here while I'm off work for 2 weeks.  

Here's to running without pain!!  

Wish me luck!

Blog on.......................

  

Making Memories

That's what our team did all day today.  Not by choice of course, but what the heck, you make the most of what happens.  Right?

It's almost necessary to succeed as a Flight Nurse.  

We flew into a small town to pick up a patient and then our plane had a problem.  Another flight team took our patient and we (me and my medic) ended up hanging out with the pilot in this small town airport waiting for our mechanic.  We borrowed the airport car to go get some food.

Of course I had meticulously planned my meals and taken them with me to work, but I didn't have them on the plane.  I needed to find something to eat.  After driving down the main street (took about 3 minutes) I realized a grocery store will be my only hope.

It was a Buick LaSabre.  Word.

My medic is way too cool.

Organic Turkey, an orange and 2 hard boiled egg.

Actually pretty dang good and held me over until I could eat the food that I brought. 

I am very proud of staying on task.  It was a very hard day and I just wanted a snickers, alcoholic beverage and a silly movie.  

I ended up driving 6 hours myself, in a rental car for 2 hours, flying for 30 minutes and now I'm in bed chowing down a grapefruit.  My favorite treat!

Hungry Runner Girl mentioned the Documentary "Hungry for Change" on her blog this morning and I'm watching it.  It really is good so far!  Talking about how we move less and eat so much more sugar.  Read your food labels!!  

How do you cope with a stressful day?

Blog on........

Food ala Whole30 or

Want to hear about my nut sack?  

Saturday I caught up on some cooking. 

First I started by soaking some almonds for almond milk.  It was an overnight process.

The coffee mate was pre Whole30.  I have no idea why I am keeping three bottles in the fridge.  

Getting all my stuff together.  I roasted a squash in the oven while I worked on other stuff.

I made more Sunshine Sauce and homemade Mayo.   The Mayo was giving me some trouble and I had to throw away my first batch and then I saw this video and followed her directions and BAM!  Easy. 

I saved the homemade almond milk for last and to tell you the truth I was pretty dang excited.

First I rinsed off the soaked almonds and put them in the blender.  Then I added "filtered" water.  All the recipes asked for filtered water and I figured my new fridge filters water.....tada!  

I added 2 dates, some cinnamon and vanilla and blended away with my trusty basic blender. No fancy schmancy blender needed.  I was a little worried. 

Then I poured it into my newly acquired nut sack (teeheehee) and I squeezed as much milk out that I could.

A closer look

I poured it into a Kerr jar and had enough to pour into an old juice jar I had. 

My review:   LOVE IT!! 

I never really bought almond milk to drink, but to use in smoothies and recipes.  This almond milk, I drank that smaller bottle within a couple of days.  I would walk by the fridge and shake it up and have a couple of big gulps.  So refreshing and delicious!

Fruits (or vegetables) of my labor.

Snacks.

After I was done I ate some leftover salmon, the squash and some veggies and no meal is complete without my favorite sunshine sauce!

Sunday when I got home from an uneventful rotor shift I threw together leftover chicken, squash some veggies and a hard boiled egg.  

It looks like the squash lasted but that is actually sweet potato.  Today I made some Spicy Tuna cakes and hard boiled eggs.  As long as I was making a sweet potato for the Tuna Cakes then I made them for dinner.

The 30 days is going fast and it's getting easier and easier.  I'm starting to have habits that will be easy to maintain after the 30 days.  Even my son mentioned tonight that he doesn't want the 30 days to end.  He likes the way eating healthy makes him feel.  

That is a win there!

Blog on...............