I can't believe it's more than halfway through July already. Two weeks before the end of another strenuous semester, I began a "bucket list" of sorts for this summer when I found it difficult to focus on the papers and presentations I had to finish up. Upon checking my school's email on Friday to see if parking passes were available for purchase yet (Yes, we are charged $75 a year for parking in addition to an enormous tuition bill), the main website proudly announced "5 weeks left!" Damn. That's it? Only 5 weeks left until the semester starts up again. While I have done some things on my list, most of it has been untouched for one reason or excuse after another. I cannot afford to go to Washington, DC in a few weeks for the annual APA (American Psychological Association for those who don't know). The cheapest hotel rates I could find ran about $175 a night (plus $20 a day just to park, plus internet, plus mass transportation.. you get the idea). DC is only a few hour drive for me, so the trip itself is affordable travelwise, but somehow I doubt that some of the most brilliant minds in the field of psychology would appreciate me sleeping in my car. I also will not be able to afford my road trip to Indiana to visit my sis. On the bright side, if our President pulls his head out of his ass and we receive our monthly disability stipends next month, she may be coming out here for a short vacation. That would mean a trip to the Jersey Shore (something still undone on my list) and depending on the cost, a very long overdue fishing trip.
I am going to visit my aunt in Orlando in just under two weeks (Thank you Aunt Sharon for getting me the hell out of here!) so I will be able to cross that off my list. There aren't words to describe how excited I am to take a short break from around here, spend time with a woman I've spent my entire life looking up to, and just getting a chance to unwind without constant noise, bustling, schedules, and half-finished projects.
Also this summer I have at least made it to NYC (ok, so it's only about an hour or so train ride, but still,) to take my nephew to the American Museum of Natural History. I wish I had the money and the time because I would have loved to stay for a few days to show him Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cloisters, and a few other "must see" learning expeditions. We only had a few hours, but to his delight there was a special exhibit on the worlds largest dinosaurs. Even after some whining about how "girlie" the butterfly exhibit I intended to see, he changed his mind the second we walked in the tiny room full of hundreds of the beautiful little creatures. One even landed right on his head, much to the amusement of those around us.
I can also cross off my list books I intended to read, which I'm currently in the middle of The Bell Curve, cleaned out and have almost reorganized my office/workout room, found my art portfolio and began sketching again. I will have to admit that I'm not half as bad as I thought I would be not having picked up a pencil, pastel, or charcoal in almost ten years, but I'm still nowhere near the caliber of my mother, or depending on the subject matter, my brother. I spent a few days down the lake, cursing my genetics for a wretched sunburn. My father can spend 10 minutes in the sun and turn a dark, beautiful, almost olive toned colour. My mother can spend days in the sun and develop an amazing tan. Me? I develop freckle on top of freckle so bad that I almost look like one of those puzzle art pieces from the early 90s--you know the ones that if you stare blankly for a few seconds a 3-D picture appears? Or I burn. And I mean dark red almost purple. Even with sunblock. And if I am lucky enough to develop a bit of a tan, it only lasts for a day or so. Damn those Northern European genes. I still haven't given up entirely on getting rid of my Casper-like hue, but I'm not entirely beyond looking into an insta-tan spray that won't turn me pumpkin orange. And while admittedly part of my desire to tan even some is due to vanity, I've discovered it also helps cover up and heal bruises. I have so many bruises I look like a domestic violence poster-child. Some are from my dog, most I can't explain. And almost all are on my legs, giving me yet another reason to not wear shorts. Not to mention the nightmare finding a decent looking pair of shorts. In preparing for my trip to Florida, I once again braved shopping for the damn things. And once again, I returned home without any and frustrated. For once, bathing suit shopping was actually a pleasure (as styles seem to have turned more towards 1940s-early 1960s as opposed to the stringy, barely covering styles of the past few years). I was actually able to find not one, but two suits that are very Marilyn Monroe-esque. Shorts, however... I have underwear that covers up more than the latest styles. Then there's what stores are calling "Bermuda shorts"--tapered pants that fall just below the knees. Now I'm not huge by any means, but I'm also a far cry from the anorexic, pre-teen runway models. I have curves. Yet to try on these monstrosities.. well... imagine the token "hippo lady" in most Disney Pixar films. All I would need are tacky, oversized sunglasses, a bouffant hairdo, and some kind of clunky, pleather orthotic slip ons to complete the look.
I am still slowly increasing my workouts, but this recent bout of Lyme has admittedly kicked the crap out of me. I've been watching what I eat, avoiding things I know cause pain flares, continued stretching and yoga, walking the furry demon when it's not too hot, but I was hoping to have started running again by now. My biggest problem lies in my feet. Inserts, being careful of what shoes I wear, weekly pedicures and almost daily soaks has not helped. Some days I am able to be on my feet moving and walking around for a few hours. Other days, in less than a half hour, I'm not beyond crawling. And I don't know what to do. I'm hoping my specialist can give me some answers this week without having to go through more rounds of oral steroids or cortisone (also steroids) injections. It's pretty difficult to lose weight when you're put on medication that causes you to gain it. And just as I start to lose the weight from the previous round of them, I'm put back on the stuff. Hopefully by the time I finish my education, there will be a cure or at the very least, safer, more effective, and longer lasting treatments.
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