Here I am, it's Friday. I felt like yesterday was Monday, and I am now realizing that what I thought would be the longest week of my life, just became a short blur of oatmeal, music, coffee, video games and art.
I left my apartment 3 times this week, how about that.
Sounds like a fantasy, right? Well it kinda has been. And what do I have to show for it? Well.....a shit-ton actually.
I went to Kaiser for my pre-op surgery appointment. Pre-op is basically just an office visit where they go over the procedure, tell me to stop taking vitamins and answer any questions I have about the surgery and to meet with the anesthesiology department. It was then that we learned about me being in the hospital from Monday through Thursday, which was a bit longer then I expected. They instructed me to stop taking Ibuprofen, because it can have a blood thinning effect. Which means, to treat the pain I was told to use Tramadol.
For those who aren't aware tramadol is kinda crazy. It's an Opioid narcotic-like pain reliever. I would have trouble taking it at work because I would be so out of it. So...What better way to spend some quality time on the couch? From what I read, It affects everyone very differently, some people experience a very mean addiction and horrifying withdrawals and some feel no negative affects whatsoever. When on it, I can notice the pain has decreased significantly, but with this sensation there is a cloud of this dizzy, wide eyed and hazy feeling that comes over me. Sometimes it invigorates me and has even contributed to some interesting choices in art, but mostly, that shit just makes me dizzy and sweaty.
I ordered a butt ton of Art supplies through an Amazon locker, which is basically an electronic locker system that you can pick up packages from the inside of a 7-11, whenever you want.
I was quite pleased.
I then set out some goals for myself for the week - breaking down each day and what to achieve.
Most of it was easy to achieve, like "paint", "coffee and drawing" or "lunch"... But I also set some that required some actual work.
In light of this surgery I bought this little guy:
http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fitness-Mini-Cycle/dp/B0016BQFV0
My new goal is to anytime I am watching TV, a movie, or playing xbox I will try to use this thing for at least the first 30 minutes, holding an ab crunch position. It doesn't take a lot of effort, but it keeps the knee joint moving without little to no impact and engages the core.
I look like an asshole doing it, but I can already feel muscles that I wouldn't be using without it. so YAAAY.
I also built a core-couch-workout. SNAZZY I KNOW. I do this once a day about 2-3 times back to back. Making sure to involve little to no impact on the knee.
SO FAR SO GOOD.
This will all be kinda worthless come Monday, but it is keeping me active and keeping me focused.
I also decided to turn off all notifications for my gmail. (I had already gotten 250+ emails from work by Tuesday) None of which required my attention, but every time I saw that little icon, it stressed me out. So, away it went. (Best decision ever). I am still checking in with my temp who is covering for me over at work, she seems to be kicking ass - so that lifts a huge weight off my shoulders.
When I sat down to use watercolors for the first time, I was sent into a fury. At one point I was working on 3 things at once.
(thanks tramadol!)
brought to you by Tramadol
My first attempt really EVER (besides middle school art class) at watercolor paint:
The water makes the paint unreliable, it's always changing. I kinda liked this, it was like magic.
I was kinda bummed out. For some reason the tube pack I got online did not include a red or white. But this led to some interesting color choices and then I made a very watered down acrylic white to get down on.
THIS ONE I actually ended up selling, which was amazeballs. Popped it in a frame and all and shipped it out today!
I also messed around with some Planets space stuffs.
And some landscape stuffs.
I also finished another painting I had started in acrylic
Full disclosure these are ALL on sale except for the one I said I sold. Hit me up on my FB!
https://www.facebook.com/ThePaintTank
You know what else I did? I made a song.....ON AN IPAD. If that's not living the dream, I don't know what is.
https://soundcloud.com/beckyunger/fly-by-me
I did all this in 4 days....4 days without a job....4 days without makeup on....4 days without free snacks. 4 days with an introspective isolation from the world.
I have to say, I don't hate it.
In the final days to come before my Surgery I would just like to relax and take the longest shower and/or bath I can. Bubbles for days (After my first surgery it was almost 5 days before I could take an actual shower.
The next 4-6 weeks will require an immense amount of concentration, will-power and physical pain.
I am going to try and update everyone as soon as I have my head on straight after the surgery.
Until then, much love - people of erf.
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