I didn't realize it had been quite this long since I posted. In late July, I spent some time with my sister up at Copper Mountain doing some hiking. I got a lot of bug bites one day (we missed a spot on my shoulder when spraying the bug spray), and I had a reaction that caused me to sleep a lot when I got back. I was running regularly (after I rehydrated--that caught me off guard) following the trip, an hour three days a week. Until two weeks ago, that is, when I came up lame. I think I did something during my stretches, but the running on that injury messed up a tendon. I couldn't walk, let alone run; I had to position my leg carefully to even be able to stand on it.

So, I've been on the couch watching videotapes and movies. I am completely caught up on Mad Men, the first season of True Blood, seasons one and two of Dexter and am now watching season three of that. I had borrowed season two of Joan of Arcadia from a friend a long time ago and am on my way through it. With the reading I'm behind on and the bookkeeping work I need to do, laptop on my lap, I've been convalescing pretty well. I've been frustrated but not bored. KuKu the cat likes the heating pad better than the ice pack. Today is the first day my leg hasn't hurt or ached all day.

Of course, the studio was set up to do all the projects I have been working on standing up so I'm way behind where I wanted to be with those. I decided I'd rather be healed and able to do what I want rather than gimping around cursing the pain and, in the process, prolonging it.

I found I didn't want to post while I was sorting out my feelings. I was fearful for a good week or so that I wouldn't be able to run again, ever. It hurt that bad. That put me in touch with how utterly addicted I have become to the running even in such a short time. We all know what those fearful thoughts can do--suddenly nothing is working, the world is a horrible place and we (people) are destroying it anyway, and there's no hope. All from a case of tendonitis. I didn't want to write about all that. Not here anyway. Some things are better saved for the journal.

Hopefully things will be getting back to normal next week. I'm going to postpone any running until I know I can walk without pain or re-injury, maybe another week or two. But I should be able to get back into the studio next week and see what it will take to get back into the flow. I trust I haven't lost all my conditioning for running or painting.