Bittersweet Beginnings

09 updates . . .

The holidays have come and gone, and here we are , mid January, and I have not blogged. I have fallen off the blog ladder. It's easy to blog when you are tracking and training for triathlons, but when you are just living your life and recovering from back surgery, it's hard to stay consistent. Then, there was my recent period of mourning.

.

.

.

Rest in Pet Peace

.

.

My beloved Ally died on New Year's eve. We were returning from a nice trip in Mexico when we got a call from my buddy Mike that Ally was lying on our living room floor, dead. He just walked in an she was lying there like she was sleeping, only she was dead.

.

.

.

So of course, clearing customs, I was a complete mess. She apparently died that day, somewhere between the morning and noon hours, so when I got home that evening, she had not been dead that long. It was an awful night, with Rob and I taking her to the animal hospital to ensure she was refrigerated, then returning the next day to pick her up to take to our vet for a necropsy, or doggie autopsy.

.

.

.

.

Ally was my constant in these last eight years. I have had so many life experiences, and she was always there. I loved her like a kid, so her sudden passing was really tough.

.

.

.

If there is anything I can take comfort in knowing, it's that ally went peacefully. we later learned after checking out her organs that she had a big tumor in her heart. she was never in pain. her heart simply stopped.

.

.

.

Ally also passed away on new year's eve, as if to leave before the new year and to close out 2008. Eerily symbolic to me. And the fact that she waited to die on the day we returned was also something. If she had died days earlier, no question we would have cut our vacation short.

.

.

.

I picked up her ashes today. I plan to take them to atlanta and spread them at this creek where she used to run as a puppy.

.

.

.

.

Love you Ally. I miss you dearly.

.

.

.

. . . . Bionic Back . . . Last week also marked my one month anniversary of my mega back surgery. I met with my surgeon, who was very happy with what he saw. . . .

The bright part of that Xray is the actual titanium hardware in my lower back. Strange but true. .

.

.So how do I feel? Well, my left side is still pretty sore. I can walk with ease, but running for the time being is out of the question. Is it less painful than before? I cant tell right now because I am still sore, but I sure am recovering quickly. My doctor has cleared me to walk and ride my stationary bike, so that makes me happy. I can also do light weights, but of course I hate doing weights so i haven't even begun to do that!.

.

.

.

..

It's still strange to me that my back is being held by rods and screws. The good news is that I'm not on pain medication any more. i might occasionally take one /half a vicoden if i'm feeling really sore, but that's rare.. .

.

.

Marathon Moments

.

.

.Yesterday I cheered on marathoners at the Houston marathon. How strange it was for me to be on the other side. I still loved it. I loved seeing friends running. I loved yelling out stranger's names. I loved seeing people smile, drink beer, look dejected, stop and walk, move quickly. We stood around mile 21 where we waited for our good friend Joe to come by.

.

.

.

We saw him!

.

.

.

.

.

He did. In truth, Joe rolls like me when it comes to marathons. He doesn't train, puts in a long run a week before the race and just gets out there.

.

.

.

.

. Ironically, Joe and I ran the last 13 miles of last year's marathon together. albeit slowly. We just happened to bump into each other and used all the mindless support we could get. Last year I didn't train either. I think I did one long run as well.

.

.

. Anyhoo, the point is, marathons are still cool to me. I can't wait to get back into all this and run houston next year. woo hoo!

.

. Congrats to the marathoners! It was another gorgeous day!

.

.

Besides the tragedy of Ally, life is good. Grad school starts back up tomorrow. I am taking 3 classes, doing one independent study on death row appeals and advocacy, and I will continue my internship at baylor.

.

.

.

I'm not training for triathlons because I can't. But that's okay. Other good things are happening, and I am happy.

.

.

Cheers and happy training!

.

. "...love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." .

.

Khalil Gibran