Don't Forget!

My more "professional" blog at www.amandakusek.com

-Amanda

(PS - These posts are way more amazing.)

Medical Boot Fashion Part 2

Broken Beauties

My good friend, Aubrey Robertson, directed me to this website called "Broken Beauties." Apparently, one woman had the same idea that I did-- That injury doesn't have to be ugly. Here's the beginning of her story:

In the Fall of 2002 my very busy, very active sister took one jump too many on a trampoline and severely fractured her ankle. The first few days were spent in a blur of pain, surgery, more pain and adjusting to this new very restricted life. Even in a large metropolitan area she had trouble finding the things she needed to function on a daily basis. Her medical bills began to haunt her, the medication made her sick and keeping the weight off without her normal exercise routine became a frustrating challenge and that was on a good day!

The crutches were “ugly”. “Why can’t someone make good looking crutches?”, she’d lament.

And so Broken Beauties was founded. They offer slings, crutches, walkers, and more! I spent some time on the site and was saddened to find that there were no special medical boot covers. I'm going to send an e-mail, because maybe no one has ever requested a medical boot before.

Dress it Up!

As you all know I am determined to dress this injury up. Here are my past two days in injured style.

I did a half french braid pulled to the side.

And on Thursday I wore another dress:

Sun dresses are super comfortable and easy to put on.

Not to mention they scream "styled."

That's all for today.
<3

Amanda

DAS BOOT

So I have a stress fracture in my left heel. Meaning no running for 4-6 (possibly even 8) weeks. For a runner, this is torture. This also means I have to wear a boot.

For someone graduating college in 3 weeks, this is also torture.

Now- there is a small chance I just tore the ligament or tendon or whatever. And that it'll be close to recovery on Friday (day of my follow up appointment). If it still hurts on Friday (which means I'll have to walk on it again sans Advil) I am going to get an x-ray. Such fun for me.

I'd rather this:

But I don't think that is going t

o be happening if I can barely walk. Lugging that freaking thing a around makes me incredibly tired. Hopefully I can adjust in the next two days and I can still go out. Sure I'll have a boot on but that doesn't mean I can't go out and look cute!

So I bring you:

BOOT FASHION

Last night I watched Season 6, Episode 11 "The Domino Effect." In which a lot of crazy stuff happens BUT Samantha also break her big toe and has to wear this:

Samantha manages to style her boot with some beautiful dresses.

I did vast amounts of research and found this:

Samantha Jones Breaks A Toe

While this is a tiny a photo, I absolutely love this dress. It's colorful it's interesting and she wears it with her boot/shoe. (Thanks to Denying Insanity for these screencaps, by the way.)

And my favorite quote out of this scene: "I have a broken toe, not a broken spirit." And that is really something I should go for. I just have to beat the exhaustion. So Samantha does not resort to sweats or staying at home. She goes out into the world, looking fabulous, and wearing her little medical booty.

Like I said, not many pictures exist of her in this episode because of the boot. So in the second scene you can barely see what she is wearing but you can tell that she is wearing a strappy pink dress (which is actually quite form fitting) along with her awesome medical shoe. She accessorizes with a gorgeous necklace and kicks ass. Later in the season she'll be diagnosed with breast cancer-- something certainly more serious than her broken toe. But she rocks that out with dignity and beauty as well.

*Sigh* If only we could all be Samantha Jones.

Hot Guys Wear Boots Too

Holy shit, David Beckham is wearing the same boot as me!

I called my best friend to tell her that a stress fracture is a fat person injury. (I'm hurt, I'm allowed to be bitchy.) And she responded, "It's actually an athlete's injury."

And look at that it is. Suck it.

In the End...

I'd really like to do this:

My Riff on MVD's 26 Lessons

Adam Baker of Man Vs. Debt wrote a blog entry titled 26 Lessons I've Learned in 26 Years of Living. Here: http://bit.ly/9cuSYQ

It is not my birthday but I really like the idea so here it goes.

22. Love is Not Guilt or Pity

If you find yourself 'loving' someone because you are guilty for your past, or how you've treated them... OR you pity them... this is not all there is to love. Can you pity someone you love? Yes. Should you love them because you pity them? No. Guilty and pity are strong emotions that are hard to detach from. Take a breath. Think about it.

21. Exercising Is Not that Bad. Actually, It's Pretty Great.

I used to HATE exercise. I saw no point. Actually there is a point. You will feel energized, relaxed, centered. Not to mention you'll get a banging bod if you do it right and enough. The key to starting? Start slow. I started by doing abs everyday. Then started trying to run a mile at a time on a treadmill (it's easier than outside) and lifting every now and then. And now? I'm finally ready to compete. Granted they are only 5k races... but it's a start.

20. Mistakes are Necessary to Learn

It's simple. You can't know the results of EVERY action you make until you make them. Only when they become routine, do you have a problem.

19. Play-Doh is NOT an acceptable Snack

Though it is tasty.

18. Zits Happen

So they are unfortunate, sometimes they hurt, and they don't really match your outfit but they happen. Plus, it's a known fact, the more you look at them, the bigger and redder they SEEM. Leave them alone, they'll heal in their own time. And to prevent? Wash AND moisturize. They make moisturizer for even the oiliest skin.

17. People Will Stick Around if You Let Them

Not everyone is going to hurt you. And some will stay with you even after you hurt them. These are some special people. And while you should be embarrassed for some of your actions, never push THEM away because of it. They like you... for whatever weird reason... so roll with it.

16. People Will Leave When You Don't Want Them To

Maybe for a bit or maybe for good. You can't stop them.

15. There is No Shame in Pop Music (Okay, There is Some)

Just don't let music snobs catch you.

14. Mom is on Your Side

Though she may not seem like it sometimes... or MOST of the time. She is. She just doesn't want you be lazyhurtaloneconfused. It's okay.

13. Siblings are Your Best Friends

And if they aren't yet, work on it. They will understand you in a way no one else can.

12. BFF's Require Effort

But luckily if they are like you, it won't take much. :)

11. You Can See the World

Just keep your eyes open for cheap opportunities.

10. Hard Work Doesn't Always Pay Off

You will work really hard on something. And no one will care and the end result will not be all that great. That's okay because you have another shot. Just on to the next one.

9. Do What You Love

You'll be happier.

8. Do What You're Good At

Don't spend all your time trying to be good at something that you're not. Play to your strengths.

7. High Heels Suck

There is very little you can accomplish in them and they hurt. Screw it.

6. People Will ALWAYS Talk

'Nough Said.

5. Life is Better Without a Car

Think of the money you save and the calories you burn!

4. Trust Yourself

3. Always Throw Parties

Playing host can be stressful but you'll be the reason for a million more great memories.

2. Stretch

1. Smile

Lesbian Gets Prom Cancelled

Meet Constance McMillen. Her Mississippi high school (yep, good ole' Miss) cancelled her high school prom because she wanted to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. Then a parent decided to sponsor a private dance where McMillen could attend IF she brought a male date and wore a dress.

Now, I think it's clear why they would discourage her from bringing a female date. This is your typical homophobia that is frighteningly common in our country. But what really shocks me about this story, and that I don't think has been sufficiently covered is the fact that they were forcing her to wear a dress.

I'm sorry, what year is this? The girl can't wear a tuxedo if she wants? She isn't breaking any formal dress codes, she would still be dressed up for the occasion-- just in pants. The kid isn't asking to wear jeans. Since when is it okay to bar a woman from wearing pants?

Say what you want about equal rights for lesbians and gays but is there really an argument that goes with forcing a woman to wear a dress? Who knew that a female wanting to wear a tuxedo is still so shocking to the American public. But I guess it makes sense. When's the last time a famous woman wore a suit down the runway? Diane Keaton?

Celine Dion?

It isn't that common. And there isn't anything wrong with wanting to be feminine, but why is there something wrong with wanting to downplay that femininity? If we're going to go that route I hope they were banning boys from wearing pink shirts and tuxedos.

That guy looks like the kid from A Christmas Story:

Pink nightmare alright.

But in my mind the pink nightmare is that colors are still associated with sexes and that even in 2010, the year I graduate from college, a woman can't wear pants to a formal function. Thanks Mississippi for sending us back a few years.

Obama

If there was ever a time to blog it would be after Obama's visit to Iowa City. My home for the past four years. In a matter of days the city and University were quickly turned into a madhouse, secret service, reporters, camerapeople, photogs, the whole charade. They printed 3,000 tickets to his little performance in the Fieldhouse.

Woah woah. The PRESIDENT is coming and we're going to put him in the Fieldhouse AGAIN? Oh good grief. Carver is too big and doesn't offer enough security. I get that but the Fieldhouse is so bleak, so depressing not to mention the hideous wall paintings that you can see in this image:

compliments of Reuters.

Look at that hideous motherfucker back there. That thing is absolutely nasty. They cover the walls and I don't think anyone knows what they are. Olympians maybe? Athletes from a Mayan temple? At any rate they're an eyesore and now we have pictures of the president with them.

Anyway- so they released something like 3,000 tickets. 1,500 hundred went to the raffle and 1,500 went to places like the UI Dems and Loebsack's personal raffle. I got mine from being resourceful and having a friend named Megan. Huzzah, luck! Megan showed up a lot earlier than myself and Kelly and Amie. She noted that the line was horrendously long and she had been there since 10:30. We arrived around 11:15. And let's get this straight, the man didn't even speak until 1. But somehow, because the line wasn't even a line, it was snaking around the parking garage, we got shuffled into the first loop of many. We were inside by 1120. Standing in our spots by 11:40 because Kelly had to pee. (Oh that girl will kill me one day.)

So we got our spots and we're quickly surrounded.

I'll tell you, it didn't feel this crowded... AT ALL. Maybe because I am used to football games... but I had room to breathe. EXCEPT.

OH EXCEPT.

I felt like every freakin' tall person had to stand in front of me. No but seriously there were just groups of them in front of us and nowhere else. I managed to befriend the guys in front of us (much to the chagrin of some bitchy girl) and that helped. I shared my gum. And we made bets on what color tie he'd be wearing. Stripes: 1 Red: 2 Blue: 4

He wore lavender.

That sly son of a bitch.

And then the woman with the kid who didn't want to be there left, so I aced their spots. All in all I could see most of it. Glorious.

His speech was pretty formulaic outside of his awesome one-liners and what not. His taking on the heckler five people over from me was needed. Oh and he pointed out that someone fainted. All in all, a pretty weird thing.

Here's a bulleted list of how his speech went for all y'all who don't watch CNN or whatever the hell.

• Northern Iowa beat Kansas. I had Kansas going all the way.
• I love Iowa because you were the first to believe in me.
• You were the first to believe in change.
• I feel bad about the flood, I'm dedicated to clean up.
• My military aid played football for the University

(He was really buttering us up at this point.)

• It is so great this passed. We showed them.
• It'll take 4 years to fully take effect
• But
• College graduates can stay on their parents' health insurance until they're 26
• Pre-existing complications are covered
• Old people are gonna get $$ for prescriptions
• Here are 3 real life Iowans this affects
• Prairie Lights
• Yell at heckler
• Naysayers be damned
• They can try to repeal but no one wants them too
• Suck it I'm the President let me play with this baby
• Oh this baby has my name

Then he hung out and waved and shook hands. And then we left and he left.

We saw the motorcade which have awesome video footage. It's not well-filmed but its the damned motorcade. I'll post it soon.

Then I went for pizza but he was downtown so I stood on the street and looked for him like any good citizen. He waved after buying books at Prairie Lights. I got yelled at for crossing the street. I ate Mesa pizza. I went to class.

That is all. I guess. I feel lucky that I was 1/3000 people who could go. 16000 applied for tickets. So I am very grateful.

No matter how you feel about healthcare reform... it was still history and I got to be a little part of it.

Amanda

This is Sad

This blog is so sad. I never pimp it out. I never write in it. But, I am seriously determined to keep this motherfucker around. I may forget about it at times, but it's my baby. Not really. It's just that my Tumblr takes up most of my time, followed by Twitter and FaceBook. 

Keeping up with all my social networking is just killing me. It's insane the world we live in now were we are connected in so many ways virtually. I like to think I am still connected to the world physically too, but I am not sure anymore.

Oh, I also have no idea... ever... what to write about. My mind is just a scattering of looking for jobs after I graduate and etc. and etc. and etc.

I'll come up with something. I just needed to write here for my own fucking good.