Life Without a Brace...

"You can go ahead and put that brace in the closet to collect dust..."

Those were the words of my doctor this morning... and you better believe I was freaking excited!!!

So, here is the run-down...

They took X-Rays again... front and side.

Dr. Rutherford put ALL of my X-Rays up on the monitor... "Of course, the first one is the most impressive one," he said. That's the one that shows my leg with 2 kneecaps.

He then had me lay down on my back while he lifted my leg to move my knee back towards my head. There is a point where I stop due to the pain and stiffness. Well, he went several inches beyond that! I just about came off that examine table because it was so painful.

I said, "OK... that's it!" He said he was trying to determine where my pain was originating... and he continued to hold the knee in that position! I pointed but he had more questions - he wanted to make sure it wasn't the wires. I finally pointed to the sides and said, "Right here!" I was gasping for breath and my eyes were watering... man oh man was it killing me!

He finally put my leg down and his assistant came over to pat me on the back. I think she felt bad for what she just witnessed...

He then gave me the news that the brace could go away, and that he believes the limited flexibility is due to scar tissue. I have some exercises I need to do each day to "break through." Uugh...

We then talked about the next surgery. He said he will go through the same scar, but only about 3/4 of the current incision. The surgery will take about an hour, and the recovery will be about 4 hours. If there are no complications, then I can go home that day. Otherwise, I'll have to stay overnight.

When I leave the hospital, I won't be in a brace. The leg will be bandaged and wrapped with an ACE bandage. I'll also be on crutches for about a week, and he'll give me all of my wires and pins to do whatever I want to with them... "Hmm... any suggestions???"

As of now, we're not scheduling the surgery until my next visit... 3 months from today. There is a gap in the kneecap that he is watching... you can see the new growth since the surgery. If everything is "good-to-go" when I see him in October, then we'll try to schedule the surgery for early November. If November doesn't work out, then we'll shoot for December.

So tomorrow I'm going to do something I haven't done since April... put on a pair of pants! Yep, I've been wearing shorts this entire time... to work, to a wedding, etc.

Want to know what I did today? From the office of, "Too Much Information," I showered today for the first time (again, since April) without the aid of a shower seat. Thanks Mel, but it's now waiting in the closet until the next surgery...

How am I feeling? It's very weird... walking without the aid of a brace. I walk slower than I did with the brace, and I'm very nervous... nervous I'm going to lose my balance or the knee will buckle. But, I guess this is just part of the healing process. I was nervous a few weeks ago when I gave up my crutches. Heck, I was nervous when I gave up the walker.

As I was leaving the doctor's office, I ran into Dr. Rutherford in the hallway. He giggled as he saw me coming, "I guess I hurt you enough to cause a limp. Sorry about that."

I said, "No worries... I'm used to it now."

Which, I guess, that's just one of the many lessons I've learned through all of this. It's going to be tough. It's going to hurt. But, you just need to adapt and figure out how you're going to adjust to get through it... and just get ready for the next obstacle... or step...

One step at a time... one obstacle at a time...

And I guess that's what life is all about...

Big Day Today...

Today I did something I haven't done since April: I ventured out in public without the use of a brace.

I don't know how you contemplate "time" when it comes to me and my injury, but it has been a LONG time since I've felt somewhat normal.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with Dr. Rutherford, and if you remember from my last visit, he said, "I expect you to be walking in without crutches, and walking out without your brace."

So I decided that the "shock factor" could be reduced if I give it a "test drive" today. Given the fact that I was in need of groceries, I decided this was the perfect opportunity.

Hopping into the truck, it felt a bit weird. I no longer had this massive "foam sock" to maneuver as I climbed into the cab. Driving was also strange... "Hey... I can actually feel the A/C on my knee!"

After I parked, I knew I just had to take it slow. And brutha, I make slow look goooooood!

Walking across that parking lot, I wasn't sure what people were thinking. I was going slow, but I didn't have the "explanation" of a brace on the leg. I also wasn't sure if they could see the scar... and if it was grossing them out.

It was good to get to the cart - that way I had something to hold onto. I meandered around the store, taking my time. Super Targets are pretty dang big, but usually less crowded than a Walmart... so that's good.

Once I paid and made it out to my truck, I could tell I had given it a really good workout. I was tired... and while it wasn't extremely painful, it was letting me know that it wasn't happy.

So my first test was a success. It's strange walking around now... given how far I've come. I definitely feel the wires in the knee... not a lot of flexibility or "give" in it. And, as some of you know, I've had some "buckling" issues when the knee has given out.

I'll post an update after my doctor visit... stay tuned.

"Where are your 2009 pictures???"

I've been asked that question a lot...

"Well, I haven't really DONE anything in 2009, OK???"

Most of my year was spent either running miles and miles, or lying on my back for hours upon hours...

However, things have started to look up.

If I can't go anywhere, I might as well share what is going on at the old household. Therefore, I updated my web site with new pics on the 2009 page. If you know the URL, then you're golden. Sorry, I only pass that along to my friends and family.

I posted the "Knee" pics, which include some of those taken prior to the accident. I also put up the pics of my recent home improvement project.

Enjoy!

I'm the Product of Greatness...

Have you ever thought about your life in terms of, "How did I get here?" More importantly, "How did I get to be who I am today?"

I had the good fortune this afternoon to meet up with some "long-lost" cousins. My cousin Gail (2nd cousin, actually) and her husband Anthony were in town to see their son Nick (3rd cousin) perform at a convention. You may remember Nick from several blogs I wrote last year. To see what he's been doing, specifically dance, check out this bio: Link

I haven't seen Gail since my grandmother's funeral, 2003. I don't remember when I last saw either Anthony or Nick... though Anthony thinks it was my Dad's funeral - 1986.

Whenever I run into family, especially on my Dad's side, they always comment how much I look like him. Anthony walked up to me from across the room and said he thought my dad was standing there. That just brings a smile to my face... I can't tell you how much that means to me whenever I hear it. I guess it's my own way of keeping him alive somehow...

So we caught up a bit, and then Nick showed up before the actual performance. I don't think I've seen Nick since he was really young... and went by the name, "Nicholas." He's now 28...

After the performance, Nick was swarmed by dozens of dancers and students. While I stood next to Gail, numerous people complimented her by saying, "I love Nick! You really did a good job raising him." Of course, that got me to thinking...

Whether it's good or bad, I am who I am (Popeye!) based upon the choices I've made and the people who have shaped me. In fact, I think we can all say that about ourselves.

For those that know me, family and friends are very important to me. I don't like surface-level conversations, or shallow relationships. I really like to dive into the deep end - I want to know all about someone, as I would hope they would want to know all about me.

Maybe that's why I was so blessed recently to have such incredible friends demonstrate "true friendship" during my recovery. You know the stories, and you know who you are, but I couldn't imagine any better friends in this world than you guys... and not just the locals, but those far away! I think that's a testament to our connection. No matter how our lives have "grown," I think we've always tried to stay in each other's lives in one fashion or another.

With family, I guess my strongest memories about "getting to know someone" can be attributed to my closeness with both of my grandmothers. I was blessed with two incredible grandmothers who impacted my life in different ways. My maternal grandmother, Ottoma Dye, was part Indian and was as tough as nails on the outside. However, she had the softest heart and gave 100% to her family - and I think I can claim a large percentage of that amount. She and I were like two peas in a pod. She practically raised me... We'd talk a lot each day, she'd pick me up from school and made me afternoon snacks, and I loved spending time at her house. She would let me get away with just about anything and everything, to my siblings exasperation's! She died when I was 14, and I was heartbroken for a long time...

My paternal grandmother, Ruby Rawlinson, was almost identical... except different in her own ways. I don't think she ever reached 5-feet in height, but she was a giant in her family. "Jovial" would be a good term to describe her... she laughed constantly! While we didn't live close, we were "pen pals." I would write to her each week, and she'd write to me the following week. I'm serious! We wrote constantly - I wanted her to know all about my life, and that I was thinking about her from miles away. And if I could arrange it, I usually saw her at least twice a year for a week at a time (if not more). We would talk, too, for hours... it was just a very special relationship that I carried from one grandmother to another. She passed when I was 33...

I bring all of this up because it struck me today as I was talking with Nick. We had already said our goodbyes inside the hotel, and I was waiting for the valet to bring my truck. Nick was with a group that was heading to the airport. You gotta know that he travels constantly - this week he's flying home to LA, then to Vegas, and then to Houston... in one week!

I didn't know that his group had come out from the hotel, but he must have seen me sitting on the bench (brace and all!) and came back over to keep me company. We started talking about different things, and then the conversation came back to family: We talked about our grandmothers.

You see, his grandmother lived in the same retirement community with her sister - Ruby. They were very close... best friends! My grandmother was like a mother to his grandmother, too, due to their age differences. Whenever he would go see his grandmother, mine was right there... and vice versa. We chatted about their strength and their love for their families... but we also remembered their laughter.

"Those two could just laugh and laugh," he said. Good memories...

Anyway, Nick went on his way... and my truck showed up. I remember just before I pulled out, I looked over and Nick gave me one last smile and wave before he got into his shuttle van.

The two of us are the product of greatness... and that is just something I'm thankful for today. I hope each of you can look back at the people who have made you "Great" and remember them.

They deserve it...

I Have a NEW House!!!

OK... not exactly... but it "looks" new!

Are you one of those people that, given time and boredom, you begin to "notice" things around your house that need to be corrected?

Well, I definitely fall into that category.

Last summer, while my A/C struggled to keep up with the demand I was putting on it, something happened. Usually when "something happens" and it involves your A/C unit, it's not a good thing. Well, the drip pan rusted through... and gravity did its job by pulling the water through my living room ceiling. Yay me!

So, I had the beautiful "rusted water stain" on my ceiling. Not only that, but the sheetrock was split. Oh the humanity!

First things first, I obviously had the A/C fixed. The unit is literally on its last leg... and coil... and has been described by two different HVAC technicians as "the biggest piece of junk I've ever seen." It's on my "list" to be replaced.

However, I put off the water stain repair until I was ready. Not really from a financial situation... but more of, "It's fine... it's not bothering me... plus, I don't want to put in the time to be here for all of that mess."

Fast forward a year later... you'd never guess what lying on your back does to your psyche when you are staring at a big, ugly water stain! Not only that, but everytime you came over to your house from your parents, you had to see the crappy exterior (wood in need or repair, paint hanging on for dear life, etc.). I finally had enough...

I asked around, but nobody really had any experiences with painters. Especially the ones that could do the repairs that I needed (interior and exterior). So low and behold, I took matters into my own hands and started my own search.

I've done this before with some success (sprinkler system). Basically, I went to Google Maps and entered my criteria. I found several web sites, but I also read over the "reviews." If I wanted further information about a company, I've gone out to BBB to see if there were any complaints.

Well, I found my company. You've got to know something about me: I crave communication when it comes to projects. If you're doing work for me, I want to know that we can talk. If you're going to be late, no problem... just talk to me. I also believe "professionalism" should encompass everything - prompt, courteous, reliable, etc.

I contracted with Boyd Hunt Painting, based here in Rowlett. Boyd has been in the business for over 25 years, and believe me it shows. The day after I sent him an email, he contacted me and setup an appointment to come out and give me an estimate.

When he showed up, I told him what I was looking for and all of the problems that needed to be addressed. He said, "I'm not the cheapest, but I'll give you a fair price." He also said his paint is very expensive because he uses the best and it lasts the longest. When asked how long, he said, "Lifetime," which translates into how long one would stay in a house (15-20 years).

Within the week, I had the written estimate and felt good with him doing the job. (Normally I take several bids, but I felt comfortable giving him the contract after we met)

So this week, "Project Paint" began. Boyd and his crew showed up at 8:02 AM on Monday. How about that for being prompt? Each day thereafter, they were here from 7:30-3:30. Would you want to be out in this heat?

They power washed the entire house, including my patio and porch slabs. The first three days were focused on "prepping," so there was a lot of caulking and sanding. Yesterday they started painting the exterior, and began work on the living room ceiling. Today, they finished the painting - all the woodwork, eves, awnings, gutters, and doors (all exterior doors, including my big garage door). The chimney was repaired, as was the back patio door.

And that water stain? If anyone walks into this house and can see the remnants, I'd hand you a $100... I'm THAT confident that you couldn't tell there ever was a problem. Amazing work!

I asked him what his area was, and he said they paint all over the Metroplex (DFW). This week he had my house and one in Flower Mound... and I know he's painted in Arlington. He also said most of his work is "interior," which surprised me.

So I'm extremely pleased... and just wanted to recommend Boyd and his company to you if you're local and looking for a "fair" painter.

My house looks brand spankin' new... now, on to other projects!

A Colossal Waste of Time...

I don't know very many fans of a show that I'm addicted to each summer, but I gotta say this: If you're looking for a "no-brainer" of a show to watch during the doldrums of "lack of TV", Big Brother is one for the books!

This summer is the 11th season - it airs three 1-hour episodes each week
from now until September (the week before the networks release their new fall shows).

I've been a fan for the past 4-5 years. Before that, I knew absolutely nothing about this show. Why in the world would I want to watch something like this? A bunch of strangers constantly arguing? Goofy competitions? A bunch of weirdos?

However, once you understand the premise, it actually is an interesting take on human relations. If you don't get along with someone at work, you can always go home at the end of the day. These people are stuck!

This isn't an American concept, either. It originates from London and has been going strong longer than the U.S. version. The house, which is actually more of a building on a Hollywood lot, has tons of cameras and microphones hidden everywhere. There are rooms that are nice, and there are ones that aren't. Whatever bed you choose, you are in that one until another one opens up. There are only 2 bathrooms, too! They have a workout room, a pool, jacuzzi, backyard (which is turf), and a pool table.

They aren't allowed to bring anything into the house that might occupy their time - books, games, writing utensils, paper, etc. They have no idea what is going on outside of the house, and the only human contact is typically through video feeds (and it's heavily scripted!) Simply put, they are forced to talk!

OK, so here is the show: 13 people (one person isn't shown above) are locked in a house until either they are evicted (voted out) or they win $500,000. The week begins on Thursdays, when they vote to evict one of the two people who have been nominated by the "Head of Household," also known as the "HoH."

Once the person leaves the house, the housemates have to compete in the new HoH competition... usually it's a quiz or an endurance competition. HoH gets their own private room for the week, letters from home, gifts from home, and pictures. The person who was HoH the previous week cannot compete.

On Sundays, the show tells what has been happening since Thursday. Usually people lobby for certain people to be "put on the block." They also have a "house" competition - which it could be a luxury competition (win trips, cash, items for the house, etc), or it could be a food competition (they earn what they'll eat/not eat for the next week). Sometimes the food competitions are pretty negative, where one group wins the right to eat anything while the other group must eat "Slop" (it's like a bad tasting oatmeal mix).

The last part of the Sunday show is when you find out who the HoH nominates to be put on the block. Usually they're nominated because they have irked the HoH. Sometimes they are on the block because they are a threat to the HoH (or their alliance). And sometimes they are nominated because they are a "pawn," meaning the HoH really wants someone else to go up after the Veto competition.

Well, whatever the case, it usually riles the house up. People get really offended and angry... it's greatness! So on Tuesday's episode, they show all of the fights/arguments/"secret conversations" that people have been having to either save themselves or lobby for votes to oust someone! Tuesday is when they have the "Power of Veto" competition - which allows the 2 nominated players to compete against the HoH and 3 others to win the Veto. Whoever wins has the power to "veto" one of the HoH's nominees... so that is a huge competition, and you usually have a good idea who will be sent packing on Thursday.

Now we're back to Thursday, which is a "live" show. It recaps what has been happening throughout the week, and Julie Chen visits with them via video feed throughout the show. About halfway through the show, they have the vote/eviction, and then head into the new HoH competition.

A LOT happens throughout the week that really isn't covered. People buy subscriptions to online feeds where they can watch 24-7 what is going on. I wouldn't do that, but I do monitor a blog where someone posts what is going on: BBDish It's quite addicting!

The nutty thing that I do (yeah, I'm shameless!) is record "Big Brother After Dark" on Showtime each night. For 3 hours they flip the cameras on - man oh man, is it crazy! You really get to see what people are really like. And you know how people say on reality shows that "production" portrays them poorly or others in a good way? Totally true... you can see it while watching these live "feeds."

OK, so that is my guilty pleasure each summer. If you're bored with nothing to watch, and you're not really sure about this show, give it a shot. You'll either love it or hate it... let me know if you find it interesting, though. I don't have many to talk with about it! Ha!

The Barrier...

Maybe I have been describing the barrier I fell from incorrectly... I thought I was pretty accurate.

I also thought I was pretty descriptive when I described my injury. I discovered it wasn't "completely clear" until I actually showed a picture of my X-Ray.

Well, here is your "X-Ray" of the barrier...

First, I did NOT try and hurdle the barrier. As you can see in the picture above, it is not something you could hop over. It's fairly tall... at least up to the chest area.

You can also see that it's not very sturdy. Again, "Why did I think I could get over that?" I guess seeing others do it made me think I could...

Once I was on top of it, things went really "wobbly" in a jiffy! I lost my balance... and while I was going down, I couldn't rid my foot of the thing. Therefore, that is the amount of distance that caused me to slam the knee "full force" on the curb.

Anyway, I wanted to clarify this because I've fielded several questions about this recently...

"Wow... You're Really Moving!!!"

It's been over a week since I've put the crutches in the corner of the garage... whew! So far, so good!

Most people are shocked to see me "moving" along. A girl I work with said, "You look like you're almost normal... you just walk really slow." Ha! I'll take that!

Don't get me wrong... I still have pain. By the end of the day, it's still a little rough. However, each day is a new adventure and a personal challenge: "Get Stronger!"

Speaking of "days," today is my 77th day since I broke my kneecap. What have you done in YOUR 77 days?

Honestly, in my last few weeks, these are the ones where I have seen the quickest improvement.

Oh how far I've come...

Going back in time, I first moved home on Memorial Day weekend. I remember feeling nervous and unsure. Can I do this? Can I get my own meals? I was still on the walker - so I had to learn how to carry things with one hand while balancing on the other. Believe me... it wasn't very fun. But I knew if I could master that, it was just one more step in my recovery.

I didn't even want to go outside. I was very unsteady, and I think I mentioned a few times of how I almost fell. Not good. The brace was still a big part of my life 24-7, so I still showered with trash bags duct taped around it. And that also meant that I slept with it... which, at the time, I was still confined to sleeping on my back. Not very comfortable to say the least!

When I had visitors at my parents house, they were really shocked to see how slow I moved. If I wanted to walk on the walker, I had to wait once I stood up. The pain was so intense as it rushed up from my knee that it was almost breathtaking. Then once I moved, I would move about a foot at a time.

Do you remember when the Physical Therapist came to my parents house to "teach" me how to deal with my new circumstance? It was the week after the surgery, and we "walked" from the the house out to the street with the walker. He showed me how to position myself going up or down hills. I remember when I came back, I was out of breath and covered in sweat. I was also shocked at the loss of my stamina... Two weeks prior I was about to run a Half Marathon!

Speaking of sweat, I remember my first time out of the hospital bed. It was the morning after the surgery, and this girl walked in saying, "Hi... I'm your PT and we need to get you up." I was like, "Are you kidding me?" I was hooked up to an IV and receiving the morphine drip, and I was expected to move around attached to that?

While I know it sounds goofy to say, "It felt like I had steel in my knee," since I had wires and a pin in there... but it really did. More like "steel plates." She put me on the crutches and wrapped a belt around my waist and off we went... at a staggering 5-6 inches at a time. Sweet Lord did that hurt! I almost fell several times, but she held on for dear life to that belt. After 10 minutes, I was feeling light-headed and dripping sweat. When we returned, my other nurse came in and said, "Laaaawwwwd I never seen no one sweat like you do!" Then she wiped me down with a cold wet rag...

So on Day 77, here's where we stand...

I wear the brace whenever I'm out in public. However, when I'm in the safety of my own home, I keep the leg unwrapped. Remember the "Mount Everest Toilet" seat? That hasn't been a part of my life since June 1. However, I still use the shower seat... although I've been standing up more and more in the past several days.

The knee feels "numb" or like it's asleep all of the time. I still can't really lift my leg up without helping it out. I can see and feel the wires - I can only assume they're going to get more and more irritating to have in there.

This week it's been pretty painful without the crutches... but more at the beginning of the week than towards the end... so making progress! I haven't returned to the Hydrochodone, but I have taken several Alleve this week and iced it quite a bit.

On July 27, I return to the doctor for a very "telling" visit. When I last saw him, he said that he expected me to "walk in without your crutches, and walk out without the brace."

So far, half of that equation is correct!

My Fourth of July...

Well, I survived another holiday... but Geez Louise was it hard!

During the summer, I'm a "Travelin' Man." I have been numerous times to Galveston on Memorial Days and on the Fourth. In previous years, I've been to Canada, Montana, and even Guatemala .

Unfortunately, traveling just isn't easy for me at this point. Stamina, pain, and other issues just make it much easier to stay close to home.

Therefore, I had to make the best of it. However, I REALLY wanted to be in Galveston. Want to know how much? I went to Galveston.com numerous times to check out the web cams throughout the weekend... sigh.

Knowing I'd be bummed, I decided to occupy my time. And what better way to do this than to offer up your services to your folks to "update their computer."

OK Geeks... I know you're out there... how many times do you roll your eyes when your parents ask you a "computer question?" Or, if you're a parent, how often do you wish you could explain to your kiddos that your computer is just "slow" and "not working" and "I don't know how to do __?"

Well, I've been getting a tad frustrated with my parents computer issues... let me explain:

"Did you get my email," I would ask.

"Yes... but I couldn't open it." replied Mom.

"What's the problem?"

"I don't know... it gave me a message."

"OK," my frustration mounting, "What was the message?"

"I don't know. It just said it wouldn't take."

Ahh... precisely. Microsoft writes error messages with "It wouldn't take." That's some good code...

So venturing to bridge that "great gap" that lies between son and mom (technology), I figured this was the perfect time to fix this "issue" that we have been sharing...

I picked it up on Friday, and for two full days I ran MS updates, uninstalled old software, reinstalled new software, and loaded as much freeware that I could find (Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, Apple software, etc). The hard drive was also 19% fragmented! (That's not good!)

In the end, it was fixed and humming along... firing on all cylinders! I was happy... although I'll bet I rebooted that machine 30-50 times!

But you want to know what meant the most to my Mom? I moved a bunch of pictures of the family from my computer to hers, and linked it with her screensaver... so it would display those pics. THAT is what she liked... not the other improvements. HA! Talking with her afterwards, she hadn't even gotten into her email or web. She was too dang mesmerized with her new pictures! Oh well... I tried.

I also smoked a rack of ribs, caught up on a lot of TV shows (DVR), and watched some movies. It was a very quiet weekend, but overall not that bad. Plus, it was over 100 degrees so it was nice to stay inside.

Next year: BEACH!

I'm Off Crutches....!!!

As of Thursday... NO MORE CRUTCHES!

It's amazing to me to see where I am today compared to what I've been through. If you haven't seen me, or been around the craptapular days I have experienced, then maybe this isn't such a big deal to you.

But for me... WOW... all I can say is I am so glad to be done with those!

My last doctor visit, a few weeks ago, he said it was time to start "getting to the point" of putting the crutches in the corner. I was shocked... a little stunned... but also quite relieved.

Since then, I have pushed myself to the point of pain... yeah yeah... I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes. However, I knew that "no pain, no gain" would help me in the long run. I needed to see what these legs really could do. Ever see Forrest Gump???

So I started walking without the crutches outside the house. Not just to the mailbox, but around the backyard... in the garage... anywhere that I felt somewhat safe.

Once I mastered that, I started sleeping without the brace. That was a bit unnerving, and I had a few moments where my leg moved in the bed and it woke me up. Yowzas!

Next, I started to see what life would be like with just the ACE bandage on. Yes... no brace. I walked around the house, and learned to lean certain ways and not others. It was a "trial by error" at times, but I kept on...

Finally, the ACE bandage is now removed. I'm living La Vida Loca without the bandage or the brace. Am I crazy or what? I can't tell you how "freeing" it is... to just allow your leg, in this sweltering heat, to just breathe on its own.

(Just to clarify, the brace is still a part of my body when I'm out and about... it's only off when I'm at home.)

So today was a major milestone. I left my crutches in my truck, and headed off to work.

I knew I could do it, as long as I kept it slow and steady. I walk very slowly... old ladies on walkers could pass me... but I'm moving and that's what is important. I took a nice 10 minute walk to the train, then another 10+ minute one from the train to the office.

All day, people kept saying, "Wow... look at you!" I walk a little better than a child taking their first steps... but not by much. I think I shocked people, but whatever... this was important to me.

So how am I feeling? Not bad... considering I had a lot of weight on the leg today, and I walked a lot of "distances" compared to what I've been doing around the house. I'm working again tomorrow in the office, then I know on Wednesday I'll need to take a break and work from home.

It's just all about pacing myself. And believe you me... I'm going at an easy pace!