Plantar Fasciitis

I'm back after a short hiatus! Where was I might you ask? Sitting...sitting...and more sitting. I couldn't walk for the past 5 days...and let me tell you not being able to walk can really give you a case of the blues...it's almost as bad as not being able to sing! The condition is called "Plantar Fasciitis" and it is a reoccuring condition if you don't take care of your feet properly and do special exersices...as I have learned. I first got it last summer when I abused my feet dancing in "40 Second Street" 7 shows in a row, in improper tap shoes. I think you all remember me limping around last semester, my short stint on crutches, not sure what exactly was wrong with me, but unable to put weight on my foot, sitting out in dance. I know you all thought I was making this strange ailment up for whatever reason, so let me enlighten you, much of this stuff I didn't even know until I finally admitted I have a problem I'm going to have to live with and take care of the rest of my life.

What is plantar fasciitis?

"The plantar fascia is a band of tough fiber in your foot running from your heel to you toes. When any part of this tissue becomes hot, red, swollen, and sore, it is called plantar fasciitis." (Most of the time the pain is in the heel but for me it is one the pad in between my 3rd and 4rth toe, the swelled spot looked a bit like a triangle.)

What should I do if I have plantar fasciitis?

"You will feel better if you rest and take medicines such as ibuprofen. It also will help if you wear comfortable shoes or shoe inserts and stretch your foot. For more severe pain, you may need to wear a cast or splint on your foot. A few people may need surgery. The pain should get better soon, but it may take weeks or months to go away completely. In some people, the pain lasts for a few years."

For me the throbbing started about 2 weeks ago and then last Saturday night when I was on an 8 hour shift, it got progressively worse, until I could no longer put any pressure on my foot, and hobbled lamely from the restaurant. The next day I went to the Urgent Care Health center and was diagnosed and given a doctors order to exuse me from work for the next three days. Losing my mobility and not being able to make money has been a tough pill to swallow and I've felt very useless. To pass the time I've been scrapbooking, working on my novel, working on a video, and reading my favorite vampire series by Stephanie Meyer, while icing my foot for 20 minutes every hour. I've also been calling people to catch up, but I know I haven't made it to everyone yet, so expect a call soon!!! Ed kidnapped me Tuesday night when I told him i couldn't walk, so we rode around in his car looking at houses for rent and Nisha distracted me with a movie night Wednesday! Tonight is the big night though, when I will try out my new shoe inserts and see if I can work an 8 hour shift without hurting to badly. I'm very nervous!!!! I feel like I could be fired at any minute for my lamness!

On the good news front I'm proud to annouce my mom is selling her pottery at the Butterfly Art Festival this weekend, and I wish her the best of luck, her pieces are beautiful. Also, my voice lessons are going very well and my voice teacher is happy with my progress. I got my high C's back baby! I can't belive Aaron already has his applications filled out for more then half of the colleges he's applying too. Loser!:P I will get started on it soon...I swear, maybe seeing it in writing here will give me the jump start I need. I'm ready to take the colleges by storm this time! Bring it On! oh god and I hope I get to visit as many people as possible, the missingness really sucks!....and with those determined words I'll close so I can go shower before work!

oayoucouldsqueezeabucketofoilfrommyhairo, Caitlyn

Jenna's Visit! a.k.a Kali Mojo's 2008

Jenna came to visit me in Sunny Orlando, FL for Labor Day weekend and we had a blast! She was seeking a relaxing weekend far away from work in Cinncinati, so playing the gracious hostess I tried my best to show her a good time:)

Saturday morning I took her to downtown Winter Park, a.k.a Park Ave, to the Farmers Market and we sipped lattas and strolled around in sun dresses checking out everyone and there dogs, seriously, Farmers Market a.k.a Dog show!

Next stop was my grandma's 76th birthday Party hosted at my Uncle Guys house in Oviedo. It was a mix of family and strangers some of which I ended up having to protect Jenna from as my Uncles friends consist a great deal of the beer belly, cigar smoking, hawaiian shirt variety:) But the wine flowed and it was all good. I put on a show for my grandma and sang such hits as "Think of Me" and "When you Walk through a Storm" to a rousing slightly drunken applause from the guests. To top the night off we went to "City Walk" at Universal and hopped around the different clubs (See above picture.) A 2 am trip to Steak and Shake followed. of course:)

The next day after a slow start indulging in coffee and one of my moms home made blueberry scones we headed to the Millenium Mall for a Shopping Spree! Now I haven't allowed myself the pleasure of shopping for most of the summer so this was a big deal! We combed stores like Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and Victoria Secret, and Jenna kept me from making countless Fashion fopas...I tried to return the favor with mixed results:P Exhausted from shopping we headed to Pannullo's Restaurant on Park Ave to indulge our craving for Italian Food! We sat out on the patio in the humid but still beautiful night and drank a crisp pinot noir while listening to the sounds of a soulful saxaphone drift down the peaceful lane. After a quick wordrobe change we met my friend Jonathan downtown for drinks and she got a good dose of the Orlando night scene which was stangely popping for a Sunday night (See picture to the right.)

Monday morning we headed to the BEACH! On the way we stopped and got stuff for one of our favorite drinks and consiquently the name of the trip, Kali Mojo's (not spelled like this though). A Kali Mojo is where you mix coke and red wine, an odd combo you might think but absolutely delicious! It was cloudly but the sun was still beating through and it turned out to be a perfect day for the beach, which was quite crowded. We sipped our drinks, ate Publix subs, and played in the water until we had to head out around 3 so she could catch her 5:50 flight. There may or may not have been some Dairy Queen Blizzards thrown in there:) It was a marvelous trip and a wonderful time...at least I hope so. Jenna?:)

Miss you girl!

Okay who's coming to Florida next!

oaeveryonenamestheirtripsright?o, Caitlyn