[create]. [celebrate]. [chomp down].

March 31, 2013

Two months ago, Awake My Soul: A Contemplative Art Journal was released. This past weekend, Aletheia and I finally got to celebrate together this accomplishment. This book would not be in existence without the support of so many fabulous people. As a gesture of appreciation to all of those wonderful people, the release party began.  

 

Naturally, the theme of this party was all about celebrating creativity in all its forms. All the guests had the opportunity to create their own pizzas, their own floats for dessert, and works of art using Aletheia’s favorite medium: yupo and acrylic ink.

Orange Creamsicle = Amazing!

Pitta Pizzas

Art Creation Station

Rachel's Cafe and Creperi

The weekend was indeed a whirlwind as I left Durham on Thursday and was back at home yesterday. Still we managed to fit in some of the local Lancaster flavor. What will be the next cause of celebration? I hardly know, but I am sure it will be a good time!

The Fractured Prune Donut Shoppe

Mint Magic

March 17, 2013

The mint magic found right on Duke’s Campus. After two years, Laura and I get to enjoy a Shamrock Shake together. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to us!

Painting Party

March 15, 2013

I often wonder how hard it would be to become friends with people if I wasn’t plugged into a church? I have been very fortunate in all of the places that I have lived to find a church that I really liked after very little searching. Grace Church has a great community of young professionals, and I have been regularly meeting with a group of girls to walk through the workings of God. This time, however, was just pure fellowship as one of the girls shared her love of painting with the rest of us.

I didn’t realize until we started that most of the ladies had never painted before. I felt like somewhat of an odd ball as I brought a picture of what I wanted to try and paint. In the end I had a great time and just went with it. At this stage of life I am getting used to being the one who does things a little differently. This time, one other decided to join me. 

Waiting - The Dr Report

February 27, 2013

I am reminded day after day that waiting is never easy. When one wakes up in pain every morning with no name to give the problem, the torture seems amplified. A few weeks ago, my answer finally came. On the 12^th, I sat down with my MD and looked at my MRI images. After walking through the report, the doctor looked at me and asked how I was functioning as well as I was with three disc problems in my lower back. The worst bulge located between my L5 and S1 vertebra, which was pinching my sciatic nerve on both sides causing the pain in my legs.

Now with the problem identified, more questions  bubble to the surface as I wonder what role this is going to play in my future. I have had two injections in efforts to decrease inflammation and thus lessen the pain.

As much of what I do requires the ability to lift and do other physical activities, I can only hope that my recovery will be swift. However, most things that happen suddenly don’t go away in the same fashion.

I can still hope. 

Crimpin' Crazies

February 16, 2013

Walking into the office on the day of the climbing comp, I arrived early to set up the registration table. I figured there would be a few people that would sign up for the comp on the day of but I wasn't expecting many, as the weather slide into the yucky category. With supplies in hand, I started to set up the table. Less than one minute later, two people ready to register approached me. This may not seem strange, but this was a Saturday at 8:30 in the morning on a college campus. Plus, only just over 30 people had pre-registered for the comp.

10 minutes later, the floodgates open and a steady flow of people hit the registration table. With one awesome student worker helping me, it seemed that those that pre-registered were few and far between. Before we knew it, the wall was buzzing with activity as our number of competitors doubled! A fabulous turn out is always makes all the work seem well worth it.

New Bling

January 31, 2013

Being a D1 school, Duke has a group of top-rate athletes playing on the fields, courts, and in the pools. In the 2012 London Olympics 9 individuals were there representing a total of 5 different countries. From those representing the US, two were head coaches, one was track and field, and two Olympians, Abby Johnston and Nick McCrory, were on the diving team.

I have always been a HUGH Olympic fan. The music, the patriotism, the athletes’ stories, the unbelievable performances, and of course Bob Costas keep me glued to the TV for hours. The sport doesn’t even matter. During the Olympics I become a fan of whatever is on!

Now, I work in the Athletic department. As is such, working at a University like Duke has its perks. One of the perks came in the form of a monthly celebration called TGI. Lunch is provided as the athletic staff gets together to watch a game or do some other sports related thing. This month, we got to watch the diving team practice and were given the chance to jump off the 10m platform if we wanted to.

After the diving team practiced, we also had the opportunity to meet the two diving Olympians and, you guessed it, touch, hold, feel, and wear an official Olympic medal! Yes, it is solid and yes, it is heav-ee!

As I posed with the silver medal, I couldn’t imagine the amount of weight around Michael Phelps’ neck when he has all of his medals on! 

Published!

January 30, 2013

 The book has finally arrived! Let the celebration begin! For those of you who want a copy for yourself (or a friend) – head to www.accordingtoaletheia.com to order today!

The Cyst-er

January 23, 2013

The quick and unusual onset of my condition caused the normal functions of life (walking, showering, cooking) to be more difficult. Although my range of function has been improving, the process of doing all of these things is quite exhausting. Not one that asks for help easily, my mom offered to come down for a while and help and I didn’t refuse.

In the past, I have had issues with a cyst that appears in the tailbone region aka a Pilonidal Cyst. Because of my other condition, I have been laying down a lot, which caused my little cyst-er to flair. I have managed this in the past with a heat treatment. Well, this one reared the ugliest head yet, as a trip to the ER was called for to get it drained.

During this time, I wasn’t really feeling the pain in my legs as my bum-chum trumped it all. The draining process took it all to another level!

During one of my wound-repacking sessions, a doctor told me a story about a woman who went through the same thing I did shortly after the birth of her child. She said that when she compared the two experiences – delivering a child and cyst slaughter – the pain during the draining process was much worse.

So, as I waddled slowly out of the doctor’s office I thought two things: as my mom had both me and my sister naturally I always figured I could do it too. Now, I knew that I could.

           

God’s hand was definitely at work in this as while my mom came down to help me recover from one condition, she was there to walk with me through another one. Thanks mom for being there!

Awake My Soul

January 16, 2013   

        

For Thanksgiving I went to PA to visit a friend. While there, she told be of this book she wanted to write that would take 52 pieces of her art work and compile them into a journal allowing people to sit and reflect on one painting per week for a year. Looking for a creative outlet, I jumped on the chance to offer my help by doing the layout for the book.

            So for the past month and a half emails have been flying back a forth between us as the project progresses to completion. Finally a printed version was ordered to start the editing process. Here we are going through the edits via skype. My mind baffled by what technology allows us to do these days!

This has been an awesome learning experience, as it has pushed my creativity and caused me to continue learning and stretching. The deadline is fast approaching. I look forward to its day of completion! 

Start the New Year in Bed

January 3, 2013

             

The New Year did not start out as I thought it would. I thought I would experience a new sense of freedom as a debt free woman (eat that student loan!). Instead, I find myself unable to stand up or walk without feeling unimaginable pain. The cause has yet to be discovered or pin pointed. All I know is that before this, I only thought I knew what pain was. 

2012 Stats

Heading South for the Winter

December 23-17, 2012

My favorite Shark's tooth

 I hit a first in the Christmas realm this year – I headed south. Joining all of the other snowbirds, I headed to Florida for a short break in the cold winter months. As my Dad was there for the winter, I spent Christmas with him, my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin. Did it feel like Christmas? Well, I had a closer glimpse at what it might be like to live in the Southern Hemisphere in December: we went to the beach to look for sharks’ teeth, borrowed the neighbor’s gulf cart to go on a Christmas Lights tour around the park, and even made to the pool on one occasion.

Dad on the bridge of our canopy walk

Still the regular traditions shown through the unusual atmosphere: classic Christmas movies, amazing food (yeah Uncle Erv), and a special time with family. 

Blankets with Sleeves

December 18, 2012

I saw this on pinterest and thought it was absolutely hilarious....

Then, low and behold, what does my boss get me for Christmas?

Bless.

Peppermint Shake Hunt

December 8, 2012

            On November 13^th, I found the following ad in my email inbox:

On Decemeber 7^th, my Chick-fil-a milkshake buddy, Laura Messerly, was passing through Durham on her way home to Maryland. I had decided I was going to hold out until then to have my first peppermint shake of the season.

December 7^th came. She arrived, and we headed up the road to Chick-fil-a. We even invited a third person to enjoy one of these wonderful shakes for the first time. Tragedy struck 3.2 seconds after we walked in the door. The ice cream machine was broken! As it was nearing closing time for the store, we were rocked so horrifically we didn’t quite know how to cope.

As we headed outside, we determined we didn’t have enough time to make it to the next Chick-fil-a before it closed. Shakes still needed to happen, so we headed down the road to Cookout.

The next morning, we rallied our spirits and decided to give it one final effort. After all, we both had waited 25 days for this. Success was achieved. That peppermint goodness was well worth the effort.

The Christmas Season

Christmas has arrived in Apt A. 

The garland is hung. 

The tree is shimmering. 

A cold chill is in the air. I love this time of year! This year an added bonus exists in the form of my roommate. She is from Taiwan. I love telling her about the crazy traditions that Americans have around the holidays. For one of them, I decided to show her instead of just tell her. And here is the result:

Paper Snow Flakes!