Medieval Torture Treatments?--Surely Not!

So, yesterday we removed the stitches and set the cast.  I truly had mixed feelings anticipating this day. . . Last year, between tweezing 50+ stitches over 45 minutes and then attempting to push a swollen, broken foot upward into a 90 degree angle, I shed quite a few crocodile tears.  I knew the day would not be complete without a lot of pain, but I also knew that getting a cast also meant ditching that bulky, heavy splint and the prospect of more mobility (and showering, who wouldn't endure a few moments of discomfort for a long, hot shower, right?)  But, surprisingly today was easy-peasy!  The only torture I experienced were a slew of zingers Dr. W kept slinging my way . . .

In what seemed a matter of seconds, Dr. W's new surgical resident had removed all the stitches and was asking me what color cast I wanted?!  I opted for boring black.  (After all, I have to return to a place of business in a few weeks; I have to appear somewhat professional and the scooter and backpack don't help the cause any, believe me. . . I mean, I look more like a 3rd grader than a Marketing Director!)  A few minutes later and with dry eyes, I sat up, viewed my new cast and wiggled my toes.  And, the good news I told Dr. W is that I am already feeling better than I did at the same stage last year!

After getting myself up and wheeling myself out of the exam room, I asked him if I could go bother his assistant Karen (my other BFF, by the way . . .).  He bid me adieu by saying, "Yeah, just stop bothering me!  Will you just leave already?"  Did I mention that my appointment was nothing but an onlsaught of zingers?  But, even funnier than he was his entire staff today.  From the x-ray tech to the nurses, every person I encountered kept asking me, "Is this another surgery?"  Yes, indeed; it seems I have not had enough of his torture--either physical or emotional--yet!

Surgically Speaking . . .

Well, Tuesday, February 15th came and went without a hitch!  I was first up on the OR schedule at 8am, which meant a very early arrival at the hospital, but also a limited window of hunger pains! After checking in with the nurses, redeeming my frequent visitor rewards with the QA consultant, and getting a warm "welcome back" from the anesthesiologist (we've practically become BFFs after the number of times I've visited her operating room over the last year), 'the mad scientist' finally arrived to greet me at 7:58am.  I had joked with the rest of the OR staff that he wouldn't arrive until 7:59am, so you can imagine our surprise when he showed up so early!  Of course, when I saw him approaching my bed still wearing his white coat and carrying a pile of about 10 patient files, I exclaimed, "You're not even in your scrubs yet?!  Are you going to be the one to make us late today?"

Luckily he managed to make up time, shaving about 45 minutes off his normal procedure time.  I woke up in Recovery just in time to nosh on a tuna salad sandwich for lunch and to take a short nap--fortunately, I had just local anesthesiology, so I avoided all the awful nausea and exhaustion of last year's surgery!

By dinner time, they moved me to my room on the Orthopaedics floor.  And, with all the gym time I put in over the Summer and Fall, I was able to successfully lift and transfer my body to my bed all by myself!  The nurses continued to be amazed at my adept "bedpan" skills during the remainder of my stay.  But, despite my need for independence, they continued to check on me every few hours, making sure my pain was under control and my belly was well-filled during my stay.  I couldn't have asked for a more attentive nursing staff; they were amazing!

After a rest-filled night, Dr. Weinfeld surprised me with a quick visit to my room Wednesday morning before he left for the airport.  "Did you really think I wouldn't come and see you today?" he said as he entered the room.  He ordered me to return a week later to have my cast set; and, feeling virtually pain-free and full of energy, I was glad to be released home a few hours later.

Out Like a Tiger, In Like a Rabbit

2010 has been a tumultuous year (to say the least) and after recounting all my challenges and successes so many times to so many people, it was recently Sarah, my pillar of positivity, that reminded me that the Year of the Rabbit promises to be a calmer, softer, and more gracious animal in our heavenly domain.  The summer and fall were a whirlwind of ups, downs, and disappointments, leaving me without time or energy to blog.  But, with so many friends and family begging for updates, I have committed myself to maintaining "Jess & The City" once again . . . and, what a way to start the new year!

Ethan Thomas Millett was born yesterday weighing in at a healthy 8 lbs, 10 oz.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet him (since he decided to come just two days after my departure), but I am excited to be an aunt again!  Congrats Keith and Rachael!

Summer Heat Led to A Cool Fall

In June, I traveled to Vegas with Nick for our annual Licensing Show and despite a few mishaps and a constantly swollen left foot, we had a successful business trip with plans for the coming year.  I took an extra week to travel home to CA to spend some quality time with the family before getting back to the grind.

I finally started feeling great in July with all the swelling finally gone and an increased stamina.  I flew out to Lake Tahoe to spend the Independence Day holiday with the brothers and their families.  And, thank goodness I did--New York had record breaking temps of 100 degrees+ that week!  After a relaxing massage, a few novels, and some well deserved time by the pool, I was rested and ready to return to work . . . I also enjoyed seeing Harry Connick, Jr. in concert and South Pacific before it closed on Broadway.

August was truly a roller coaster!  I went back into the hospital on the 3rd to have the 'mad scientist' remove the screw from my heel.  And, while the procedure was quick and painless, the recovery turned out to be a steep uphill climb!  About two weeks later, I started having serious swelling and pain again.  Unfortunately, the surgeon was out of the office through Labor Day on vacation, so I couldn't reach him in person.  I tried my best to limp along, completing a business trip to Toronto and taking a short vacation at the end of the month.  I spent the first few days in Buffalo, NY visiting my old roommate Alaska and her family, including 1 month-old Emma Claire!  It was fun to hold a new baby all weekend.  We also had fun visiting Palmyra, NY, the area where the Mormon church was founded, as well as Niagara Falls (all with ice packs along for the ride!).  I then took a few days to relax in Puerto Rico.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Earl ripped through the island just 48 hours before my arrival!  Unsure of whether or not my hotel was still standing, I took the risk and flew to San Juan anyway!  It rained every day, but I did manage to have a few authentic meals and to finally get some sun on the last day . . .

Returning from Puerto Rico at the beginning of September, I finally couldn't stand the pain any longer!  I visited the hospital to get an MRI of my foot.  Low and behold, I had two stress fractures across my 2nd and 3rd metatarsal!  Keith and Rachael came to visit me just a few days later and I toured them around the city's tourist hotspots with that blasted boot on--believe it or not, I even managed to board the ferry to the Statue of Liberty with that tumorous appendage!  At what was supposed to be my pre-op appointment on September 14, Dr. Weinfeld ordered me to remain in the boot and told me it would take 4-5 weeks for it to heal.  I joked with him that I had developed a co-dependent relationship with that boot and that all I really wanted was to break up with it for good!  With all my family scheduled on flights to arrive for my next surgery at the end of the month, I had to hurry and cancel their trips, telling them we didn't know when we would be able to operate on the right foot.

Taking every opportunity to enjoy this unplanned "walking" version of Fall, I was able to enjoy some fun weekend activities like apple picking, a corn maze, a visit to a local pumpkin patch and a farm in October.  With the foot all healed, I then traveled to Mexico City at the end of the month for a business trip.

By mid-November, I was finally feeling back to "normal" with my new and completely healed foot . . . I stayed in NYC for my first Thanksgiving and Mom came to spend the week with me!  We had so much fun seeing the Rockettes in their holiday spectacular show, West Side Story, and the Macy's parade balloons!  Unfortunately, she lost her wallet during her trip, but after a very panicked morning, we were able to find a solution to the lost ID and money and she made it safely home to CO a few days later.

December crept up so quickly . . . I took the chance to fly home to CA for the first time in 6 months!  It was great to see my nieces and nephews and to see how much they've grown!  One of my good friends Crystal got married on New Year's Eve and we then rang in the evening at Knott's Berry Farm.  The warm CA air was a welcome departure from the single digits we had in NY right before I left!

In a New York Moment

Unfortunately, I slept in a bit this morning, which meant I had to hail a cab to work this morning to arrive in time for my 8am conference call.  But, it made for a momentous commute!

Sitting in the back of the cab, I was lazily looking out the window as it pulled to a stop at 72nd St. and Park Ave.  I saw a man dressed in khakis, a button-down shirt, bucket cap, and dark horn-rimmed glasses.  Hmm, that guy kinda looks like Woody Allen.  And, how funny?!  He's holding hands with a younger Asian woman.

Only when I opened my eyes a bit and took a closer look did I realize that it was indeed Woody Allen taking a morning stroll with his estranged wife Soon-Yi.  It is by far the most quintessential NY moment I have had since living here!

For the Love of Mass Transit

Oh the weather outside was sticky, so I really couldn't be picky. . .
The bus was nowhere in sight, so I thought I'd risk a ride . . .
Risk a ride, risk a ride, risk a ride!

What began as a reluctant choice, turned out to be an unanticipated achievement!  When the sticky downpour prevented me from finding a cab this morning and the bus was nowhere in sight, I was left with no other choice but to take the subway today.

But, I did it!  I was able to tackle all those pesky stairs and make it to my destination safe and sound (without anyone stepping on my toes)!  Finally, after four long months, I can safely ride the subway with all the other perfectly healthy, if harried, New Yorkers!

A Bombing in Times Square?

Another day, another bomb scare! Saturday night, Times Square was evacuated due to a suspicious vehicle parked on 45th St at the corner of Broadway--in other words, right in front of my office building!

Luckily Duane, the handbag seller that sits outside our building, saw the vehicle smoking from the corner and notified police, who acted quickly enough to contain the scene before it exploded.  Yeah, it looks like I will still have to go to work on Monday morning.

A Sighting in Times Square

While out in Times Square today to grab a 6" from Subway for lunch, I spotted not one, but two, out of work actors.  Dan Lauria and Erik Estrada were both drawing an audience.  As I was walking past our favorite CHiPs cop, I overhead a tourist shout into her cell phone:  "You're not gonna believe who I just saw!  Oh my God, I just walked by Erik Estrada; oh my God!  No, I am not shitting you, it was totally him!"  . . . Classy!

After living here two years, I've truly developed an intense love/hate relationship with tourists.  I just love it when I can laugh at their silly expressions upon their first trip to the Big Apple, just like the non-descript cigarette smoking, fanny-pack wearing Mid-Westerner I overhead today or how they're willing to pay double the menu price for the Tour of Italy at Olive Garden because they're terrified of venturing any farther south than 34th Street for a decent Zagat-rated eatery.  But, I also hate it when they're blocking the route in and out of my office building with their uncanny lack of ability to get enough pictures of the 360 degreed barrage of neon signage surrounding them.  (The ones I really pity though are those that forget their digital camera at home and have to rely on taking their plethora of photos on a $20 disposable camera without a limitless number of exposures; ouch!)  I mean, really, how many poses does one need of their spouse wearing an I [heart] NYC t-shirt in front of the Bubba Gump's restaurant on 7th Ave?  Get out of my way already!  I am late for work!

A Brat Packin' the Streets of NYC

While sitting in a towncar on 8th Avenue today, I spotted 80's brat pack icon Andrew McCarthy crossing the street incognito under a beat up leather jacket and sunglasses.  He's aged, but he's still hot. . . . no fooling!

Is It March or May?

So, during my convelescence period of the past 10 weeks, I've had, you could say, not a lot to do around here!  I've invested in and since become addicted to 9 different TV series (and counting) and I've read 4 different novels already . . . instead of being out enjoying this beautiful city I call home by enhancing my cultural senses at museums, staying physically conditioned with long walks in Central Park, or eating decadent desserts at the local Italian eatery, I have been trapped in this little studio of mine dreaming of what I will do in the warmer months of summer . . . (thus the reason for no new and interesting posts--no new and interesting news!)

When visiting with my family this weekend, I asked what our plans were for 4th of July. . . my brother just looked me and said, "Geeze, I had to stop and think for a minute:  is it March or May?"  OK, I get it; everyone is a bit busier than I am and they haven't even started thinking about their summer vacations yet.  But, really, that's all I can think about!  I've got to have something to look forward to in order for me to really remain sane through this long and arduous process.

Luckily, my sister-in-law piped up at that moment and announced to me that they're going to Italy and that I am coming with them!  Apparently, she's been planning a two week cruise along the Mediterranean coast.  But, just as she was getting all bubbly telling me about the details of every port of call (including two days in Monte Carlo--yeah, Monte Carlo), my brother shook his head and whispered to me, "No, we're not. . . we're going to Tahoe like we do every year."   Yeah, this little argument went back and forth for about an hour with me right in the middle. . . you can imagine my frustration (just tell me where we're going and when we're leaving; I can start planning the rest).

Either trip sounds divine to me . . . I just have to figure out a way to use my four weeks of vacation and soon.  Once I have an amazing vacation to look forward to, I can finally wrap up this healing process with my mind in one piece . . . (that and I think the arrival of Spring in NYC will help too.)