Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Living It Up Over Here

While you studs are all out doing long runs, running races, and making your PRs you are missing out on the joys of living in stress-fracture-land. Like, for example, I bet you didn't do your shopping at Target like this yesterday (if you look closely it appears I am trying to shoplift the pumpkin spice Hershey's kisses as they are inside my green purse. These things are so good that if I thought I could get away with it I would steal them, but in this case it wasn't intentional):

No I am not drunk. And yes, this is a terrible picture of me. Fluorescent lighting doesn't do me any favors. Neither does not running or moving for two weeks. I was, however, cracking myself up. Driving around on the electric cart like I owned the place. Running into displays as I tried to navigate through the narrow aisles of the boys' department. At one point I drove into a rack of belts causing several to fall to the ground. The cart was kind of stuck in the gaggle of belts (I know it's a gaggle of geese, but not sure what you call a group of belts). I put the cart into reverse to unstuck myself. It makes that lovely "BEEP BEEP BEEP" sound like I'm in a huge dump truck coming in to drop a load. I got lots of nice looks. People wondering what this skinny ass girl was doing on the electric cart (usually at my Target it is the morbidly obese driving these things and I couldn't help but wonder what types of people had graced the seat I was sitting on. You know there were some ginormous farts laid on that vinyl. There is a 350 pound weight limit, however).

Finally a red and khaki clothed Target employee asked me if I needed help finding something.

Red/Khaki: "Can I help you find something?"

Me: "No, but could you do me a favor?"

Red/Khaki: "Sure."

Me: "Could you take my picture on this thing? I want to send it to my husband." (really, I wanted it for the blog but didn't want to get into that).

Red/Khaki, laughing: "Sure. Where is your husband? Iraq?"

Me: "Oh, no. He's just at work."

Red/Khaki, taking the picture: "Oh this is great fun. Much better than dealing with unhappy people."

Me: "Great. Glad I could add some fun to your day."

On a different note, it will be two weeks tomorrow since my world fell apart and I was diagnosed with the stress fracture of the cuboid bone. Since then I have tried to stay off of the foot, using crutches and the boot. I have cheated around the house, hobbling around to get the kids their damn waffles and to let my three-legged dog out. Tomorrow I go back to the doc to see how my healing has progressed. Fingers crossed that he will give me the okay to ditch the crutches (woo hoo, bonfire and beer at my house tomorrow) and to get on the bike or elliptical. Or to do something.

Denver is calling for snow tomorrow, so that makes me miss running slightly less, but I will tell you I have SO missed my friend, running. She keeps me sane, keeps me balanced, doesn't let my butt get too big, allows me to wear fun dresses and skirts, gives me time to think and to solve the world's problems, and allows me much needed "me" time away from family, work, home. Who could ask for more in a friend?

Stay tuned for the doc's report.

Check out my latest article on World Run Day.

29 comments:

  1. I'll be there for the bon fire, but you better have some king sized candy bars for me damnit.

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  2. Oh, I am hoping for a good Doc report. Good luck with that.... This was such a funny post to me. I love that the Red/khaki thought your hubs was in Iraq.... Made me giggle.

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  3. I just laughed soooooo hard! I love that you drove that cart around! And asked the employee for a pic! Way to take one for the team! The post wouldn't have been the same with out the pic! (oh, and thanks for the tip on Kisses).
    I will be over right away for the bonfire, only because you said something about free beer?
    And I totally get the whole "I am defined by my running." I finally got a pain-free run in yesterday and it felt good. I know you will be back in no time! Can't wait for the doc's report! :)

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  4. LMAO! Girl if you're going to get injured you best do it right and live it up! Keep up the optimism and humor!

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  5. Good luck at the doctor! :)

    Are you considering doing any radical alterations to your running form when you get back on your feet? I'm recovering from a nasty shin splint (which my doctor isn't very sympathetic about- I've had a shin splint for a month, surely something is wrong!) and am thinking of Pose Running or Chirunning techniques...

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  6. i just found your blog by chance and your foot injury immediately caught my attention as i recently experienced a similar foot pain(but much less!)myself(you can read my blog about it). i read your post about the half marathon where it happened and it's making me a bit nervous about my upcoming race...i wonder if you may be able to offer me more information--how long did you have the pain before the half marathon?

    and btw, great blog!!

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  7. Assuming "Running" is a female is the same as assuming "God" is a male.

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  8. A bevy of belts? I love that you had a Target team member take your photo. Because he was so nice, did it make you feel worse about stealing the Hershey's kisses? (I kid.)
    Hope all goes well with the doc.

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  9. Looks like you're making the most out of the situation!!!

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  10. Oh girl. Oh, oh, oh, OH. I am so right there with you. I found out yesterday I also have a stress fracture in my right foot (second metatarsal) and I too am in a boot. It hadn't occured to me that I get to drive the go carts at Target, though...THANKS for the laugh and great idea. :-)

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  11. What you need is one of these bad boys:
    http://www.rolleraid.com/patients.html
    My mom had one of these when she had foot surgery. My brother and I took turns racing around the house on it. Great fun. And I believe there is a YouTube video about a woman who wants to race these on the Ellen show. I, for one, am all for it.

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  12. I LOVE how you are making the most of it. And I love even more that you asked a Target employee to snap your pic. Awesome!

    Good luck at the doc!

    And pumpkin spice chocolate kisses? WE NEED THOSE HERE!

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  13. OMG that is the BEST BEST BEST picture. I love Target...but hate how close teh racks are together, I cannot imagine traversing it with that beast.

    I hope your apt goes well. Someone gave me the idea to add "Hugs" to the wounded on my High Five Friday... so you will be linked in..

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  14. Luv that pic girl. I can totally see you driving around causing chaos at Target.

    NOT looking forward to the snow.

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  15. I'm with Marlene. I never new such a thing as pumpkin spice Hershey's kisses existed and just looked for them at two stores near my office. If I cannot find them at Target tonight, you might have to start taking orders for these things.

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  16. The cart is great!! At least you are having fun with it. The boot sucks...I've had one earlier this year and twice before that. Boo. On a side note: pumpkin spice kisses???? Damn, that sounds good!

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  17. Great picture. Way to brighten the day of a Target employee.

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  18. HILARIOUS!!! This is SO funny! I love how the Target employee thought your husband was in Iraq! :)

    Even in a negative situation - I'm glad you found some humor!!

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  19. Did someone say beer?? Good luck with the Dr tomorrow.

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  20. I love that you took a photo while you were in Target! I hope the doctor has good news tomorrow!

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  21. Oh, that's great. Love it!

    AND...btw...you totally inspired me to apply to my local Examiner.com! I did and was accepted :-) Thanks!!

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  22. Yeah girl, livin' it up in Target, you're the bomb! I too would have taken my picture taken. It's not everyday you can sit around on a cart in Target. Hope your husband laughed like I did!

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  23. Fingers crossed for good news tomorrow, but really I just want to come to the crutch burning party to snatch some of those pumpkin hershey kisses out of your purse!

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  24. Running is THE BEST FRIEND! EVER!

    Love your sense of humor, you are awesome! Here's to good news from the doctors because we need to get you running' ;)

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  25. You ROCK, girl! Way to make the most out of this temporary setback. And way to make a Target employee's day ;)

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  26. your flipping hilarious! this post totally cracks me up and makes my day! i've always wanted to drive a cart, but like you said, the morbidly obese people always have them!

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  27. I'm sorry you're dealing with a stress fracture. I've not done a good job keeping up with the running blogs since my Triple Trail Challenge is over. Maintaining two blogs isn't working well for me... HOWEVER, I'll keep reading you. Hope you heal soon! XO, Chris

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