June Report on the New Year’s Goals

I think it’s high time to do another one of these. Now that I’m laid up: bad leg bruised from the walking cast, bad foot tingling and shooting pain into my toes, with my “good” foot hurting like a m@#)$(%* from the limping, let’s see how well (or poorly) I am doing.

I was going to do a net worth analysis but I will save that until the halfway point in the year: medical, physio, and other costs are adding up… about $400 so far this month. The walking cast cost me 200 bucks, uninsured.

I did go to Europe - and I got back in one piece - so that goal was accomplished.

My athletic goals are pretty much all forsaken now. I am hoping beyond hope that the pain in my “good” foot in the same area as the “bad” one isn’t indicative of another stress fracture of the 4th metatarsal. If I have to spend the rest of my summer in a g(*@$%& wheelchair I think someone will find me hanging from a noose in my sweltering hot apartment.

If I ever do bike/run/walk again in my cursed life, I may indeed be faster: I am now 12 pounds lighter than when I arrived home from Europe. Sure, the Guinness and “frites” packed on some insulation, but I’ve lost a good 7 more in my quest to heal. Eating three pounds a day of calcium-rich greens will do that to anyone. Now I just don’t feel like eating - as I realized while I force-fed myself a red onion and a bunch of spinach today - so I’m bound to lose more. Actually, I don’t feel like doing much at all.

As for schooling/ CFA: I gave it a good attempt. But one thing I can attest to now: I never want ti have a CFA designation. In fact, I do not want a finance-related career.

Too bad that’s what I spent 5 years of my life working toward. So shoot me.

Jitters

Ok I lied... I'm still in Ottawa, with a gigantic headache and bloodshot eyes, and my sleep-deprived self is still hung up on all the potential things that could go wrong, and I'm still paranoid about missing my flight or being swarmed by groups of kids, but the end is near!

Hopefully, hoping beyond hope that about 5 hours from now I'll be sound asleep on that plane. A co-worker just shared a tale of camera-snatching and swarming in Italy... but Rome, isn't that the worst place for such things? Regardless, it's the last thing I need to hear!

But I've got plans for safeguarding, and, like I've said before, I'd love to put my elbow in some thug's face.

Preparations

Spring has finally decided to show up! And what a lovely weekend for running it was! My chest/lungs are recovering steadily but of course, I overdid it and aggravated my ITB at the hip… guess it serves me right, but disappointing nonetheless because I’ll need my wheels in good condition for the trip. I picked up a pair of hybrid trail runners yesterday, and they’ll be my one and only pair of footwear for the next 2+ weeks…might have to chain them to the bed. Not so sure about the 30-person co-ed hostel experience; I don’t really expect to sleep much while I share a room with those party-going young’uns.

My apartment is totally a disaster area, with clothes, luggage, and sundries strewn about haphazardly. I spent hours going over air security regulations last night, in the attempt to pack a tiny carry-on that I could live from if the airline lost my checked bag (I half expect it to). Be prepared: Scout’s motto? I’ve learned that the lighter and smaller you want your pack, the longer it takes and the more creativity you must employ.

Ready? No. Nervous? Yes. I’m always the kind of person who needs to have a contingency plan… “If it can go wrong, it will”. Keeping in mind that we’ll be travelling to G8 countries (!) the cost of necessities will be much higher than here, where we tend to take things like clean, cheap drinking water for granted (and long, hot showers!). The stress of spending so much money on even the basics--food, travel and lodging--is making me feel kind of guilty! I have to stop myself from thinking of the alternative uses of these funds. Then there is sickness, injury, and all that jazz. Now add some worry about theft and personal safety into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for traveller’s anxiety!

I probably won’t be posting again until after I get back…. so long for now.