North and Low

I have been a bad blogger again. It is difficult to motivate myself to write sometimes, though it always helps me feel better. The truth is, it's been a low year here in Michigan. I miss the heat of San Antonio, the friends of Texas and Kansas, having a job and feeling like the man of the house. Graduate school has been nice, but I have ruptured two discs in my back and haven't been able to sit or stand for three weeks now. I am only funded to do research through the summer session, and I doubt I will be able to contribute much from my prone and medicated position. My long-planned vacation to Mexico is occurring without me, and I spend my days eating percocet like candy and waiting for the doctors to consider my pain as urgent as I do.

Miss Neverpoop is at least enjoying her Tour de Grandparent: a three week trip to Kansas City and Fort Collins to visit her four sets of grandparents. She will be joined by Dr. Wife for the last 5 days, who will visit her family. I'm sure by the time I see her again she will be thoroughly pampered by doting parents. Dad will be much less entertaining than the boating, camping, puppy-owning, attention-lavishing grandparents. But that is as it should be.

As for my brain, it has been occupied with a retarded amount of facebook ogling, daytime TV drooling, and moping about. I have lost 15 pounds, because I have no appetite and I spent a lot of my time tensed in pain. It has been a long three weeks, though parts of it were a blur of sedative.

I keep looking for bright sides, but there are few to be had right now. I'm not going to fall apart, but I think life has gotten the better of me for the time being. I dislike being this negative, but until the pain stops this may be the best I can do. I should know more in a day, as I am scheduled for an epidural injection in the morning. If that works, I will be back to mobile by the weekend. If it doesn't, I will get on the list for surgery as soon as possible.

Beach Blanket Bingo

I'm pretty pumped this week about my weight loss achievements. I am back in the same size jeans I wore at the end of college, and they look good. I'm well below 200 pounds for the first time since then as well.

Despite the back troubles, I am keeping on track with the get fit goals. I've been a bit of a slacker this week, but am looking forward to some meal planning this weekend that should get the ball rolling again.

The impetus? Puerto Morelos Mexico.
My fraternity brothers and I have rented a house for a week in July. A few assorted wives and friends will be coming along. The daughter will be with grandparents, so it will be sun, cervesas, and swimming for grown ups.

I want to be good looking in the ol' bathing suit. Not necessarily abs of steel, but I certainly want people to be glad my shirt is off on the beach. Hell, I want folks to be glad my pants are off at the beach...