O come, O key of David, come.

click on to enlarge

What a week! I received a brush-up on my stage combat on Monday. It has been well over ten years, maybe much more, since I have participated in any of the fights. It is remarkable how much I remembered.

Then I had a kink in my back yesterday, but that was temporary. Less so, coming down from the attic on Monday evening I banged the shit out of my knee. No serious damage, but that really hurt. 

Distance: 2 miles

Duration: 17:42

Regardless, we have had our holiday with the children who are leaving for Athens today to spend Crimble with their MP. The spouse and I will remain at home, on our own, and we have a festive day planned.

Then. Oh, so many things to do on Friday. And you know what? That's okay. 

Route: 
Temperature: 
Climate: 
Mood: 

The Current Holiday Mixer (Live)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Storyhill

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Punch Brothers

Come on! Let's Boogie to the Elf Dance - Sufjan Stevens

O Holy Night - Sarah Morris ft. Annie Fitzgerald

Every Day is Christmas (When I'm Lovin' You) - Charles Bradley

Stretches: no
Water: yes
Weight: 165 lbs. (-0-)

Two miles. Place closes at 2 PM, I got in after 1:30. This is how my day is going. Taking my time, then STRESSED. Happy holidays, to each and every runner!

Planks: TBA
Push-ups: TBA

Sit-Ups: TBA

The voices ring in my head.

We were on our feet all day yesterday, and it was joyous. This year was the first year we prepared a Thankgiving dinner in our home. Ever! Normally we would be in Athens or Lakewood (Lakewood now relegated to memory) or maybe even Minnesota Last year we ordered a pandemic meal from chef Doug Katz.

Pies were baked, sides prepared, and a very well executed turkey, thanks to our son who created and amazing butter mixture to place under the skin. It took all day, we dined at nine. No regrets.

Distance: 1 miles
Duration: 9 minutes
Temperature: 32°

The boy and I set out for a five mile run to and through the cemetery. A little after the one mile mark we encountered a familiar (to me) puddle at the bade of a rise in the turf. I ran up the little hill, as I have in the past, but it was to slippery and a lost my balance. I tried to control my descent but caught the ground with (as I have assessed) my left knee, my right fist, and my face.

My glasses broke, my hands hurt, and my cheek and temple are tender. When I hit I heard a "crunch" which I was afraid might be my skull, but it was just the glasses. They may be repairable, I'm supposed to get new specs at the end of the month.

I rolled onto my back and laughed, I threw my hand up for my son to take. He told me he was afraid at first I put my arm out because I had broken it. I was just saying, "Okay! I'm out!" It hurt. I was wet. It could have been much worse.

Thankful to be whole. Wish I didn't have to go to the show tonight, I'm afraid I'm going to have a bruise. Ah, vanity.

What's That Lyric?

Let Go - Gabriel & Dresden

The master gave me "nees."

Quiz: Name that comic book.

My relationship with my knees ... it's complicated.

My knees feel great. Except when they don't. I have resumed a regular exercise regimen, which is good, it's very very good. Strengthening my knees has to be a priority. Someone (my wife?) pointed out to me recently that the msuecles around your joints act as a kind of buffer in and of themselves, and if you simply run without doing any weight-bearing exercises, and lose all your fat and muscle, then the cartilage is the only padding you have. And that's not good. That may be why I tore my left, lateral meniscus.

Then again, it may be from when I jumped off a bed during a photo shoot at the height of about six feet. I broke my right heel ... but did I also cause slight damage to my left knee, which took three years to become an issue? The world will never know.

Running, I get complaints in either knee, in different places. When it hurts where the injury (and subsequent surgery) took place, I wonder of that is further injury, or just internal scarring with issues.

Lately - and this is weird - it's like the scars on my the exterior of my knee have been saying "hello." I don't look at the front of my knees, that's hard to do. But we took a group picture of my co-workers, one which is now framed on my desk. It was taken out in front of my house, by the same tree where we took the group portrait three years ago. And I am in the same position, kneeling down front.

I look old, real old, much older than the 2006 picture (which was taken just prior to training for the NY marathon.) Grayer, more gaunt (in a lumpy, English way, not in a sexy way) ... and there are these two, puckery bite marks, one on each side of my kneecap. They look positively fresh.

Last time, without warning, my knee suddenly blew up. That's how I knew I was injured. It's like the engine light, by the time it comes on, your car has already been seriously damaged.

Listening to: PODRUNNER Classic - Engine Summer (142 BPM)

Morning trot. Trying to keep my stride short - and slow. I have a tendency to go fast. It's true.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Temperature: 54º
Weather: cool & overcast
Weight: 154 lbs.

Pengo (partial résumé)

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Cleveland, OH (August, 2001 - Present)

• Title: Full-time Graphic Artist; Illustrator; Character Designer

• Duties: Creation and design of original character line featured in a series of sympathy cards entitled 'Extreme Love'.

• Conceptualized, developed and/or composed electronic art files for thousands of greeting cards on tight deadline schedule while also developing new skill sets and attending assorted in-house classes and presentations.

• Skills: PhotoShop, Illustrator, HTML - Dreamweaver - HomeSite, Flash, Image Ready, Quark, Word, Art Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration - Traditional & Digital, Print Design, Web Design

• Intuitive, Self Starter

See: Pengo's Biography - a fictional work-in-progress.

Knee wrap-up

Final (cross fingers) visit to Dr. V. yesterday. He says it all looks good, no swelling. I should be able to do anything.

As we are trying to be as frugal as possible these days, I asked if there were any way to minimize the damage inflicted by running on pavement instead of a treadmill or indoor track. The only honest advice he could provide was, don't run on pavement.

He also said I have a runner's body and there is no reason I couldn't go the rest of my life without suffering another injury like this one, so that's good. If I can limit it to one every 40 years, that would be super.

Today my left knee hurts.

UPDATE:

Distance: 5 miles
Temperature: 48 degrees
Weight: 155 lbs.

Listening to: PODRUNNER Classic - Rainy Day Run (145 BPM)

Wow, that's one of my favorites. If you haven't noticed, I have started listening to old PODRUNNER mixes, more or less in order, from the beginning - 2006. They were a great help on long runs, I used them to get down MLK and back several times. I had a few I went back to occasionally, and this was one of them.

Because it's raining! An early December thaw, spring-like weather. Supposed to snow tomorrow - or at least get freezing and make all this lovely water treacherous. And so, because I can't help myself, I went five miles.

Who knows, I may not be able to do that again until March. Or that one, freaky 70 degree day that usually pops up the first week of January.

If you'll notice, I don't usually run in December much. Last year I forced myself to run five times. In 2006 - after the marathon - not at all. As a result I missed the SPECTACULAR lights display, just around the corner, across from Sarah's mom's house. Have to take the kids to see that.

155 lbs. Jesus. Haven't seen that since the boy was born.

Week 18 ... or Bust

The Doctor can see no tear. There is definite inlammation (yes, thank you, I knew that) but if there is any subcutaneous damage, they cannot find it with the MRI.

So my options begin mildly and get progressively invasive.

1. Maximize my intake of anti-inflammatory agents. 2 Aleves, twice a day. This may be all it takes to bring down the swelling and the body will absorb the fluid. Check back in ten days.

2. If there is no improvement in ten days, they may inject cortizone to achieve the same result.

3. If that also does not alleviate the problem, they may put a camera in there to find out what is wrong.

NY08 training begins tomorrow.

A Visit to the Doktor: Part Two

Had my MRI. They are so classy out in Richmond Hts. - they even had a list of albums you could choose to listen to. Well, not albums, just artists (let's not get too confusing) so when I chose Miles Davis I could have laid even money the album would be Kind of Blue. Which it was.

I dozed on and off, listing to Mile and what at turns sounded like either a music-free techno beat or a cat-grinder. I've had an MRI before, a few years ago. That time it was on my head, checking for a reasonable source for migraines (there is no reasonable source for migraines) and I have to say, I like an MRI better with my feet in it than my head.

They gave me a disc and said they would send the info over to Dr. V. and meanwhile I called Dr. V. and the folks there said the technology was different and so they couldn't just transmit it - I HAVE A DISC AND I WILL BRING IT OVER - I interrupted and they said great, see you soon.

So I drove the disc over, and five minutes later (I have been reading Billy Bragg's The Progressive Patriot by the way, it's very good) the Doctor said that while I definitely have swelling, he cannot tell if I have any tearing.

So I have to call on Monday.

Sigh. Anyway. I do feel fortunate I got the same amount of business done in one day that I may have accomplished in one month. So I got that going for me. I did hope to do housework, get some editing done, possibly have dinner ready by now, those were my other plans for today. But oh well.

I did stop at Coldstone Creamery after my last stop because that's what ice cream is really for. To cheer you up.

A Visit to the Doktor: Part One

I injured my knee three weeks ago. The day finally arrived to see the orthopedist. It is a day I have been waiting for ... and dreading.

They are super efficient and helpful at Chagrin Highlands-UH. Really, they are all fabulous. I was whisked in to get my knees x-rayed before my paperwork was through, and I barely had time to finish it before the doctor was ready to see me.

Dr. V. was very helpful and sympathetic. The good news is that the x-rays show that I have "the knees of a 20 year-old." The spacing is identical in both knees, no signs of arthritis or other joint complications like that.

The bad news, of course, is that I probably have the knees of a 20 year-old with a meniscus tear. He recommended and MRI, which I agreed to have. I mentioned I was - supposed to be - beginning training for NY08. He grimaced, but only a little, suggesting it's possible. When I mentioned I can always defer to next year, he thought that was a sound idea.

We shall see.

So my 2.5 minutes with the doctor through, I was sent out to schedule an MRI. Earliest opening: July 3rd. Two days following I can follow up with Dr. V ... oh, but he'll be out that week. And the next. Could I see him July 25th?

A month to follow up on my MRI. I was, as you could imagine, a little depressed about that. Three weeks of vacation? Doesn't suck. So I was making plans, but I asked if there wasn't anywhere, any time I could MRI sooner, or be seen by another doctor.

We were negotiating this possibility - when one of the folks there found an opening TODAY at 1 PM t a different facility, am I available? YES, I AM.

AND Dr. V. wants me to call this afternoon to confer on what it says, he told me this himself. And I found out he's not going on vacation, he's having shoulder surgery. Oh. So, uh, sorry.

Dazed & Contused

Still fluid under the tissue. Which makes my knee stiff on occasion. No other pain. Running is not a problem. I take Aleve, I do my carefull stretches. I apply ice. I do not run very fast. I see the doctor on Friday.

This is my four mile route, one with which I will become very familiar beginning next week. Training begins a week from today.

1975 Playlist
Low Rider - War
Rock and Roll All Nite - Kiss
The Hustle - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
S.O.S. - ABBA
Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
Mamma Mia - ABBA
Sufferin' 'til Sufferage - Essra Mohawk
Slow Ride - Foghat
Rip It Up/Ready Teddy - John Lennon
Young Americans - David Bowie
Tush - ZZ Top
Cooldown: Time Warp - Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, Little Nell & Cast

Run stats:
Distance: 4 miles
Weight: 166 lbs.
Stretches: yes
Push-ups: 30
Sit-ups: 80
Temperature: 68º
Weather: warm. nice.

The calliope crashed to the ground

Did I ever mention Heart totally rocks?

So. Yes. Shame. Boat loads of shame. I have disobeyed doctors orders and gone for a run. Not running has been driving me absolutely batsh*t. It's like when I broke my heel three years ago. Just wanted to kill myself.

I have done what reading I can on the subject, and I got nothing. It's not inflamed, infected, there's fluid under the tissue which makes bending my knee more difficult than it should be. The wife did some searcging as well, and said it would be all right if I took it easy and went for a short one.

It was less than three miles. To me that's short. And I went slow - or I tried to. Had to stop at most stoplights. Walked down hills.

So. Will my knee swell up more than it already has? Will there be pain? I guess that was the test. What I can say is this - just the aerobic breathing has me feeling more cheered than I have been in days.

1976 Playlist
Car Wash - Rolls Royce
Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold
Blinded By The Light - Manfred Mann
Crazy On You - Heart
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Turn The Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson
Cooldown: Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
(I'm) Stranded - The Saints
Step Right Up - Tom Waits

Run stats:
Distance: 2.75 miles
Weight: 167.5 lbs.
Stretches: oh, yes
Push-ups: 10
Sit-ups: 80
Temperature: 72º
Weather: warm with light rain

Interlude: She brought me on my knees. Please, baby, please.

Almost two weeks ago I got what is not an unusual complain in my left knee. I have had this trouble since I was twenty. It comes it goes. This time it did not go.

I ran again a few days later, which was not painful. But a day went by and me knee appeared visibly swollen, if not in any additional pain. It did not hurt to touch the bit which bulged out when I bent my knee. I decided I should see my doctor, which I did on Friday.

She was confused by the lack of pain in the joint itself, the only irritation is in the back of my knee, not the front, and not very much. Just what you might call "stiff." She recommended me to an orthopedic specialist - and forbid me from running until I saw him.

It took me until today to get the appointment ... which is ten days from now, on the 27th. I am supposed to begin training for NY08 at the beginning of July. Does anyone know what this guy is going to do? Drain fluid from my knee? How effing painful is that going to be? Will I be able to run soon after? Is this a recurring condition? Am I finished?

Water on the Knee Info

Interlude: It takes a very steady hand ...

Water on the Knee:
Colloquialism for fluid accumulation around the knee joint.
150 points

Running down the avenue (pant pant pant)

Mr. Smartypants has had a swollen left knee since the run last Thursday, when I first received my acceptance to NY08.

I am going to call the New York City Marathon "NY08" from this out, to be precious and expeditious.

"Run run run, run run, run away."

1977 Playlist
Dust In The Wind - Kansas
12XU - Wire
Got To Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
Night Fever - Bee Gees
Oh Bondage (Up Yours) - X-Ray Specs
Your Generation - Generation X
Mr. Blue Sky * - Electric Light Orchestra
Welcome to the Working Week - Elvis Costello
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment - The Ramones
No More Heroes - The Stranglers
Cooldown: Orgasm Addict - The Buzzcocks

This was the soundtrack to my 9th birthday. Ye gods, what a pscizophrenic mix.

(Last Year's 1977 Playlist)
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
Nothing Achieving - The Police
Cretin Hop - The Ramones
We're A Happy Family - The Ramones
Turn To Stone - Electric Light Orchestra
(Get A) Grip (On Yourself) - Stranglers
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols
Warsaw - Joy Division
Heroes - David Bowie

Run stats:
Distance: 3.6 miles
Weight: 168 lbs.
Stretches: yes
Push-ups: 30
Temperature: 71º
Weather: sunny and warm