July 03, 2009

Serve and Volley

As often happens when you live in a country other than the one you once called home, I have a teensy conflict. I say teensy conflict because it involves tennis. So really, how big of a conflict could it be?

You may have noticed that Wimbledon has been going on the last 2 weeks. I couldn't avoid noticing it as it's on the TV constantly and it's all anyone's been talking about aside from the amazingly hot weather. (Secret: it hasn't really been that hot.) (Another secret: Wimbledon has a d in it, not a t. Please pronounce accordingly.)

Anyway, Wimbledon has drawn a lot of media coverage. And the coverage of the men's singles has been pretty much wall to wall Andy. Now, 90% of you reading this live in the US, so the Andy for you is Andy Roddick. Former world number 1, plagued by injury, currently making a comeback.

For those of us on this side of the pond, Andy is Andy Murray. Current world number 3, climbing his way through the rankings, put on crazy amounts of muscle in the last 2 years and seriously improved his game. And the media will regularly point out that this kid is British. Unless he's losing, then they make clear that he's Scottish. But still...

Murray is Britain's chance of getting their first men's Wimbledon title in a bazillion years. And Roddick is America's first chance of getting the men's title in...not really that many years at all, but still it's the principle of the thing.

So normally in this situation, where there are two teams or players playing each other and I can't figure out who to cheer for, I cheer for the clock. Which...isn't an option in tennis. Hence the teensy conflict. I'm stuck. I don't know what to do.

At this point, I've decided just to cheer for Andy, and let the chips fall where they may.

So mused Kerry at 11:10 AM | Comments (0)

June 24, 2009

Home Again...Briefly

Jet lag is a bitch. Even at the best of times. But when you don't have a job to force you to get up in the morning and get back into a regular routine? It lasts forever! I swear, I cannot get to sleep before 3 am anymore. I'm hoping it passes eventually.

But it's totally worth it. The trip home was wonderful. It was great to get to see Karen, Baxter, Dan, Katie, Drew, Christina, BJ, and all my folks. I made sure I didn't waste a minute, meaning by the time we got to Chicago I was actually fairly touristed out, and then proceeded to spend 3 days walking all over the city.

And eating. Oh my god. If you love food, go to Chicago. You won't be sorry.

All in all, it was an amazing vacation. What it wasn't, was an amazing travel experience. We were delayed by 4 and a half hours on our way to DC, and almost didn't make it. And then we were delayed by 2 hours on our way out of Chicago and almost didn't make our connection. Luckily the travel gods smiled on us, and we didn't end up having to spend a night in Newark. Hooray!

Now all I have to do is pack to go to Aberdeen. This weekend. Man, I just want a weekend at home.

So mused Kerry at 04:40 PM | Comments (0)

June 09, 2009

Homeward Bound

Tomorrow morning, bright and far too early, Ian and I will be on our way to the States. I'm excited, not just because I get to see my family and friends (though I am very excited to see my family and friends) but also because I get to see the States. I haven't been home since Christmas of 2007, which means 2008 came and went without me ever setting foot there. Which just feels wrong somehow.

But, that will be fixed tomorrow afternoon when I will land in...Newark. Hopefully we'll make our connecting flight, because I'd really rather go to DC where everyone is waiting for me!

So mused Kerry at 06:13 PM | Comments (2)

June 08, 2009

One Year

One year ago today, Ian fell in a hole in a glacier in Iceland, completely destroying one of the bones in his lower leg and breaking the other. One year ago right now we were probably on our way up that glacier. It was an amazing day, it was an amazing walk, and I even said to Ian at one point "this is the coolest thing we've ever done, I am SO happy we signed up for this tour."

So, you know, we know I'm not psychic.

When these kind of traumatic events happen, you'll often find people later describe things as a blur. "I don't remember exactly what happened...everything was a blur."

I remember.

I remember the sound Ian made when our guide and a doctor who happened to be on the hike with us pulled his leg out of the hole. His foot rotating in a way that was completely unnatural. Wrapping him up in all of our jackets to keep him warm. How polite and chatty he was with the young doctor while she asked him inane questions just to keep him conscious.

I remember how long it took for the rescue team to get there. How glad I was to see them...all 14 of them...walking across to us. The shoes the policeman was wearing as he pulled my head under his arm so I didn't watch the rescue team taking off Ian's boot and moving him to the stretcher. How angry I was when I saw someone in the parking lot taking pictures of us.

I remember the Icelandic doctor in the ambulance given Ian morphine. Him telling the paramedics that they needed to keep checking the pulse in his foot during the trip to Reykjavik to make sure it still had blood supply. How the driver of our van brought over Ian's other shoes and appologized. How our guide sat on the bumper of the van looking like he was going to be sick.

I remember even bump and jolt of the ride back to Reykjavik. One particularly bad jolt where one of the paramedics fell over and landed on Ian's broken leg. A noise that was worse than the noise when they pulled him out of the hole. Ian wanting morphine, but knowing that getting the injection meant stopping the ambulance which meant longer before getting to the hospital.

I remember getting to the hospital. Begging someone, anyone, to get Ian pain medication. Walking back into his room and finding another young doctor taking care of him, getting him medication, getting him ready to go for an X-ray. I remember the woman from the tour company showing up, offering to take care of everything, chattering to the nurses in Icelandic to figure out what was going on.

I remember being so scared. More scared than I have ever been in my entire life. Getting on the phone to Ian's parents and doing my damnedest not to break down. Looking at Ian's X-ray on a computer in a hallway, with him on a gurney, and seeming oddly upbeat as he looked at his shattered leg. Being sent back to the hotel by a nurse as Ian was taken away for surgery which was likely to last all night.

I remember crying in the shower for an hour. Trying to go to sleep, finally managing. Waking up at 4 am and getting ready and going to the hospital because I didn't know what else to do. The hotel staff getting me a cab and offering to go and fetch me food to take with me. The cabbie knowing about Ian's accident from the newspaper. The nurses on Ian's hall showing me where their break room was so I could get some decent food and coffee if I wanted. The complete lack of visiting hours enforcement.

I remember seeing Ian in bed asleep. Him sleeping most of that day because of the pain medication. One of his surgeons coming in and telling us the surgery went well, the joints weren't affected, and given enough time it would heal very well. Telling us that he would be ok.

Then...and only then...it's all a blur.

So mused Kerry at 03:31 PM | Comments (1)

June 05, 2009

The Shortest Birthday

My birthday is in less than a week. Normally this would mean I was a week or two into the birthday cards at this point, trying to beat last year's record for the longest birthday. Except there are a few things hindering me.

First off, I'll be going home to see my parents for my birthday. Which means my mom, who normally would have sent me at least one or two cards by now, hasn't mailed any. Because she can actually give them to me! On my birthday! Imagine!

While home I'll also be seeing a lot of the other people who often send me birthday cards, so obviously they won't be mailing any either. Because international post? Bit pricey.

Still, I do already have a few cards. I even have a gift already from Ian's mom. It came in a package, which had a wrapped present and two envelopes. One of the envelopes has written on the outside "You may open this now, if you wish."

I knew Ian found my whole method of opening birthday cards when I got them rather than saving them until my birthday a bit silly. And I find his method of saving them all until the actual day arrives a bit ridiculous. But, seeing as his family also appears to find my way of doing things...unusual...I figured I'd give their way a chance. I'll still probably open everything the day before my birthday so I don't have to drag them with me on the plane, but until then there's a pile of birthday cards sitting on the dining room table. Mocking me.

I'm not sure I'm going to last.

So mused Kerry at 01:48 PM | Comments (4)

June 04, 2009

Sun Worshipers

Now that the days have gotten longer and the sun is actually out, the cats have taken to slowly moving around the house all day to make sure that they are always sleeping in the sun. Other than moving from one sun spot to another and occasionally eating, they appear to do nothing at all.

Rough life.

So mused Kerry at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)

June 03, 2009

Allergic Reaction

I've been having random allergic reactions from time to time for the last couple of months. No idea what's triggering them, and they aren't usually that bad, so I haven't been too worried. But today my face started itching like I haven't experienced since I had the chicken pox as a kid. It was miserable, and I started thinking about what has changed in my life and surroundings in the last few months and what I might be allergic to.

Things I might be allergic to:

~ Sea air

~ Soft water

~ Sleeping in as late as I want

~ Actually having time to read books and magazines

~ Coming up with ideas for what to make for dinner every night

~ Cleaning

~ Not having a pony

~ Unemployment

My vote is for a combination of cleaning and not having a pony. That must be it. I think I'll just get Ian to work on that so I can go on itch free.

So mused Kerry at 06:54 PM | Comments (1)