Cherney’s Life Story

Hey there my fellow bloggers.

I don’t know what to say today.  I had a tough one.

I got stuff going on in my mind, and I can’t find any relief.  I don’t really want to talk about it, aside that it really has nothing to do with my school or work.  It is more of a personal thing. .  (next subject)  I am very lucky to have a great mom to listen to all of my issues.  I can turn to her for all of my issues, no matter how awkward it might be.

Okay, I took that test today.  It sucked.  Yeah, it did.  I don’t know how I did. . I feel as if I passed, but how well??  That is yet to be determined.  The test was kind of like a brain purge.  Take everything in my mind, and put it on paper.  Sadly, I wasn’t able to think of everything at the moment I needed.  After the test, things came to my mind. . probably things that would have given me some more extra points.

What can I tell you about work today.  Aside from saying “it happened” there really isn’t much to say.  I was there, time passed, I helped people out. . and I was happy to leave.

Oh, highlight. .  I went to the Sheldon Girls Soccer game this evening.  Tonight was the first game of the playoffs.  When I left, at halftime, the girls were up 1 to 0.

Tomorrow I get to have a little bit of a social life. .  I am going to the MBA Halloween party followed by the then heading over to the Law School party.  It might be a LONG night.

Time to sign off. . nothing to exciting to report, I am sorry.

Happy pre-Halloween! 

I just finished my physical therapy.   And you know what?  I got some good news.  They say that I am progressing faster than expected.  Sure, I hurt like a bugger at this point in time, but the news is always welcome.  He said that I am doing so well, that he wants to see me again later this week.  “To take advantage my progress,” he says.  I think this a good thing?

Oh, he took out some sort of electrical node thing and put it on my leg.  It is a type of muscle stimulate, and let me tell you it was a very odd feeling.  My leg would feel this buzz tingle for 10 seconds, and then it would stop.  I am suppose to flex my muscle when I felt this buzz.   At first it kind of hurt, but as you got used to it. .  it did kind of tickle.  Maybe I am just strange?  As we were doing this, he asked me to lift my leg.

I did.

This impressed him to no end.  He said that not many people can do what I just did.

I felt really good leaving today, and I look forward to going back.

The rest of my day was pretty good. . nothing really to highlight, like usual.

There is a test in one of my classes tomorrow, so I need to study for it.

Wish me luck, and have a good night.

Not much excitement on my end of things today.

The only real highlight I can think of involves my leg.  Today I went through the whole day without a crutch.  I didn’t look pretty walking, and it didn’t tickle. .  but I still managed to get through work and class without a hitch.

I spent a little bit of time with my group members this evening doing some group work for an upcoming assignment.  After we finished my friend, Matt, invited me over this his place for dinner.  Well, actually.  .  I offered him a ride home, and as we were walking to the car he offered dinner.   His roommate was cooking, and there was going to be plenty of food for me.

Now, if you know me you know that I would never EVER turn down a free meal!:)

There are some simple little things I am noticing about living by myself.   Things are really quite, too quite sometimes.  More and more people are busy doing things, which takes away from doing things with them or talking to them in the evening.  I guess the nice thing about summer is that everyone has more free time. .  more time to do just about everything.

I suppose it is a good thing that my social life has kind of died down, as it gives me more time to study.  I couln’t imagine working full time and going to school full time.  It would be very tough.  One thing wouldn’t get the attention that it needs, and it would suffer.

Speaking of this. .

I am spending more, and more time thinking about next year.  I am trying to get my plans together.  Where am I going to be next summer?  Internship in Portland, Eugene, somewhere else??   If I am even able to get an internship.  Then, what do I do when I get back from this.  Do I work fewer hours at work so I can spend more time finishing strong at work, and getting more involved with the various opportunities that come my way at the university.  (Doing so, kind of flips my life upside down. . you get used to a certain standard of living, you know?)  Fewer hours means fewer dollars.

Stay in Eugene. . . or leave??

At least I have time to figure out this question. .

I got the staples removed!

I no longer have to wear the compression sock!

I still can’t swim in the pool.

So, I got 2 out of the 3.

Am I happy about this???  In a lot of ways, yes.  I really do want to go swimming, but I guess I will have to wait just a little longer.   On the positive side, it only gives me a little more time to improve my leg strength and walking abilities.  I might be to actually walk into the pool without help sometime next week.  Meaning, if I got into the pool today. .  I would be taking a crutch all the way the pool steps.

Now that the staples are out, the itching is GONE.  And without the compression sock my leg feels lighter.  I feel just a tad nimbler.

Oh, I got my test back from last week.  If you remember correctly I took a test last Tuesday.  I wasn’t sure how I did. . today I learned.  The class average was a 82, I had a 89.5.  Not bad, but a couple of my friends got a 93, and 95.  I guess I will need to try harder next time.

That’s about it for today.  More sun. .  more work. .

Good night.

This morning I went to the church where my good friend Ethan and his wife are deeply involved.  I try to go every now and then to support them, but I also like to go because I like seeing my friends.  I guess that I do also attended because I enjoy the message.  I would not call it my main place though, there is another church in town that I really enjoy.  Today was a special day, Ethan was giving the sermon.

I don’t know, and I don’t pretend to know. . but I do know how I feel when I go to certain churches.  Some upset me.  Yeah, they actually make me angry.  They say things that I just don’t believe in. Other churches I find silly.  They have so many special things you have to do. . and it is bad if you don’t do them correctly.  There are some churches where you are not allowed to talk, and others were all you do is sing.  Like a restaurant, I’m sure there is one out there that would be considered my favorite.   Can’t say I found it, yet.   There is one, here in Eugene that is close to it.  When I say close to it, I mean that what they preach is closely aligned to what I believe.

It is another beautiful sunny day in Eugene. I can’t believe how nice of weather we have been having.  I know the turning point of the season is coming. . .  very soon actually.  Halloween.  Yep, this wonderful day usually brings the rain that never leaves.

I hope the doctor tomorrow gives me the green light to get back in the pool.  Swimming. .  A chance to feel normal again.  The water really does help the body recover.  It provides just enough resistance that you are working your body into shape.  The parts of the body that hurt, don’t hurt as much.  The part that I like, I get to work my heart rate up. .

I don’t remember what I write half of the time, so I am sorry if this is a repeat.  I can’t wait to get these staples out of my knee.  They itch like a bugger.   Oh, aside from the staples, I hope they will tell me that I don’t have to wear that silly compression sock anymore. . and tell me that I can start walking again (when I have the strength to do s0).   The doctor has SO much power!

The second half of my day included basically one thing. . . studying, and lots of it.   I know I did at least 6 hours of honest school work.  Most, if not all, of this time was focused on an upcoming test.  Got to love tests, right?  At least I wasn’t doing all this work by myself, I had a friend from class help me out.  It certainly make the time a little more enjoyable when you have someone else suffering with you!

Oh, I had dinner with another friend. .  we went over the a pretty yummy spot off or Pearl Street, “Sweet Basil”. .  Thai food.

As I was reading today, I came to the conclusion that I am pissed at our country’s need to always have more stuff.  Got to have newer stuff, better stuff, coolier stuff.  It just drives me crazy and makes me REALLY tired.  We spend so much time consuming things, most of which we don’t need.

I have worked so hard at not buying a different car.  I have so many justified reasons to why I don’t need one, yet I still find myself looking at them.   Why?  What is the need?  There is little spot in my head that says. .  “man, that thing looks hot. .  I gotta be behind the wheel.”  Now, the other part of my brain (the smaller part, yes.  But it is still winning the battle) says. . “What a beautiful looking piece of metal.”  That is really all it is.  One nice looking piece of steel, plastic, and fiberglass.  The difference between a cheaper car and a more expensive one?  They both get you from point a and b. .  Status, styling, features.

Here is a great link, http://www.thestoryofstuff.com . .   The person in this video was a speaker at my sustainability class last week.  Brilliant person, with a great insight into some of our planets many issues.   The video is about 20 minutes long, but if you are serious about making our planet just a little bit better, you owe it to yourself to watch this video.  It’s a cartoon basically, what could be boring about that??  I think that this video could have a profound impact on you. .

Anywho. .  I am so tired of having the thoughts of wanting to buy things.  I am SO freaking tired of having those thoughts.  They have been pounded into my head ever since I can remember.  So many ads everywhere!  I don’t have cable at my place, it helps with the bills. . and fewer ads that I am exposing myself to.  I find that I don’t watch many shows on tv anymore, I kind of just watch them off the internet.  (No ads)

Marketer’s have done a great job over the years.

I have found so much more joy in spending time with friends, family, doing things with others. .  those memories last, those experiences can be built on.  What do you get when you buy a new sweater?  Warmth, sure. . but what else?  How long did it take to buy?  5 minutes?  Now what are you going to do?  Shop. .   Go home and watch more tv. .

Man, our culture sucks.  Why can’t we get promotional ads sent our way for doing things that are good?  Like going to the park and spending time with family?  Or have ads that make us look bad if we don’t help others out. .  Maybe they could try selling us on spending time with those in needs. . .  Instead, I am told that I am old school because I don’t have the newest style of ipod.

The consumer based economic engine is messed up.  There has got to be a better way.

Physical Therapy was tough today. . . very tough.  I hurt when it was done.  A positive to all the pain, I reached my week goals.  It only took 45 minutes of intense pressure to reach it.  I needed to get my leg absolutely straight.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Well, it isn’t.  Bending you leg like you are riding a bike hurts like hell too, but that wasn’t the primary goal. . only a secondary one.  I was able to reach 95 degrees of bend. .  so my range is now 0-95 . .  Last Monday, 2-87.  Now I get to work on keeping my ‘zero’. .   next time I meet with the therapist I need to still have my ‘zero’. . . if I lose it I have a feeling I will have more pain on my way home. : )

I worked a full day at work today.  I wasn’t all that tired, and my leg seemed to hold up well.  I am going to just take one crutch with me from this point forward.  No need for two anymore.  It seems like my quads are getting some strength back, and walking with one crutch is only going to make them stronger.

It has been a long time since I have been in the weight room, I got back there tonight.  It is interesting to see how much strength I have lost in 10 days.  Not as much as I feared, but enough to notice.  The question will be this.  Will I have the energy to go every morning like I had in the past?  It takes me WAY to long to get ready in the mornings.  I used to be able to do everything I needed within 30 minutes. . . now I am looking at an hour.  Everything takes a little more time. . Just getting dressed takes time.  I have get that damn compression sock off my leg for the shower, then I have to get it back on afterwards.  It might be easier if I had more flex in my leg.  :)  As of right now, it is a workout to put the sock on.

Hey, I just wanted to say to everyone.  I am glad that you are reading this stuff.  Sometimes, most of the time, the crap I write here is just that. .  crap.  But every now and then, I might have some little nugget wisdom. . or maybe my story is a little more meaningful.  I don’t know. .  I am STILL happy to have this place to write stuff.

I talked to my friend from Australia the other day.  He gave me a few more details about the mini trip I will be going on.  He said that it is pretty likely that I will be going to a town called “Esperance” in Western Australia.  If you google the name and look at some photos or images. .  the place looks amazing.  He also said that the road trip to this place would be about 10 hours. .  or 1000km (700 miles??)  Then he added a great line. . . “it won’t all be on paved road, like the US” . .  part of the highway is a one lane dirt road! :)  I love it.  Then he said, as I remember from my last trip, that cell phones will not work. . and there aren’t any radio stations. . pack the ipod I’m told.  The whole thought sounds so awesome, and I can NOT wait to leave.