Hotel Room and a Laptop

I'm writing this from a hotel room in Red Deer. I'm out of town for the week in training seminars for work. With work on the brain I realized I've never posted about my new job. Since coming back to Kung Fu I've been asked, "where have you been?" a lot so I thought I should maybe explain a bit. This may prove yawn worthy.

I graduated from N.A.I.T last May with a diploma in electrical engineering technologies. The engineering is thrown into the official name to make it sound fancier. It means I am an electrical technologist. It was a two year program and I disappeared from kung fu sometime in my second year so I could focus on school. After I graduated I got a job as a designer for FortisAlberta.

For anyone unfamiliar with the company, they are a large electrical utility. They own approximately 60% of the distribution power lines in the province. My job entails designing and managing the construction of power lines all over the province. It's kind of a mash up of civil/electrical engineering, surveying, land, material ordering and project management.

So far it's proven to be interesting and very challenging. There is so much for me to learn and I like that. I think its important for me to be challenged, to always be thinking. I dread the day I start going through the motions. Its both comforting and depressing to see so many people I work with having 20-30 years in with the company. I am still in a bewildered state. Adjusting to the change from dead end job to actual career. So for the past 10 months work has been a dominant force in my life. Therefore I'm sure I've been talking about it more than people would like and glazed eyes are all to familiar.

I'd be lying if I said that this hasn't interfered with my kung fu. As I'm adjusting to my new found state I'm remembering the other more important parts of my life, parts like Silent River. These other parts are starting to get the attention they deserve and it will only get better.

Inspiration

The I Ho Chuan class Friday and the meeting on Saturday gave me a motivational boost. It reminded me of what I can do instead of what I can't. I tested the knee out today doing some forms to see how it does. It seems to hold up alright so long as I take it slow and avoid putting too much weight or strain on it. I'd like to say thank you to all my wonderful teammates for reminding what this is all about.

Update

My knee seems to be getting better. Walking and moving around normally only causes mild discomfort now. Although It still hurts pretty good moving it around sideways or twisting. At least it seems to be healing and I have an MRI on the 29th if it is still giving me trouble by then.

Earlier in the week I watched a video about bill C-10 and how the conservative government is trying to push it through. Thats the big "hard on crime", create mandatory minimum sentences, invest 15 billion dollars into convicts bill. I did some research on the matter, decided its idiotic and in a moment of inspiration sent a mass email to all the Canadian senators. I wasn't expecting anyone to read it but to my surprise I've had seven or eight of them write back to me.

The ones who responded all agreed with my perspective of course. I don't think they would write back otherwise. I thought it was rather neat to be getting emails from senators.

Diagnosis

I visited my family doctor yesterday after being referred there from whatever orthopedic doctor looked at my chart. He ran some tests by pushing and pulling my leg around to see what hurt. The test ruled out the ligaments as the problem. He is fairly certain I tore my medial meniscus cartilage. That's the cartilage in the knee joint that lies between the tibia and the femur. The cartilage kind of acts like a shock absorber.

There are different kinds of tears and I'm not sure which one I have. Depending on the severity of the tear, it may heal on its own or require surgery. My doctor said there is probably a piece of loose cartilage in my knee moving around which is causing the pain. The sensation of my knee giving out in one direction would be caused by the missing piece of cartilage. There is now a gap in the cartilage where the bone slides so instead of stopping where it used to it skips off/over it.

Anyway, I'm booked for an MRI to find out how bad it's torn. I'll probably have to wait a couple months before I can even get the MRI. There's pretty much two scenarios for the treatment. First:the loose piece of cartilage will dissolve and my knee will heal on its own by the time I get in for the MRI, this could take a few weeks. Second: my knee doesn't heal on its own by the time I go for the MRI, which probably means I have a serious tear and will require surgery. Not much I can do for in the meantime except baby it like I've been doing.

Obviously this throws a rather large wrench into the majority of my requirements so I'm going to have to be strategic. The past week I couldn't do anything at all but I'm beginning to think it might be alright to start doing certain exercises again.

Another boo boo

Last night I took a kick in the side of the knee while my leg was at the worst possible angle for it. After dropping to the mats for a bit, with some help, I got up and hobbled home. I would like to say thanks to everyone there for helping out. I'm borrowing a tensor bandage and an ice pack from the school. I was lucky to be giving Sifu Robertson a ride there because he drove me back home.

Today after lots of ice and ibuprofen it definitely feels weird moving my leg a certain direction. It feels like my knee has way less support than it should to the inside. So I went to the Royal Alex to get it looked at. The doctor confirmed there is more movement than normal to the inside but wasn't positive what it is. She suspected a sprained or torn MCL but made me an appointment with orthopedics to get it looked at again. Meanwhile I'm supposed to stay off it and keep a tensor on. I used my McNeil cane to the hospital and got a nice comment on it. Who knew? Its good for beating people and healing!

So it looks like I'm down for a bit. Obviously I'm a little peeved right now. I just hope it heals fast.

Gym

I took the first step towards one of my requirements tonight. One of my personal goals for the IHC this year is to supplement my training by going to the gym at least 100 times this year. Tonight I visited Grant MacEwen and signed up for a membership. Cardio equipment at the gym will be one of my biggest resources for the 1000 mile journey.

It's my first time seeing their facilities and I like the look of things. My membership gives me access to the usual fitness equipment as well as a pool, gymnasium and squash courts. The squash courts are the biggest bonus for me because I love the sport and it is absolutely fantastic for the body. I think I read somewhere that it's the healthiest sport around because it burns a ton of calories, increases coordination and dexterity. I will definitely be counting squash games towards km's. Now I just need to find people to play against...

When I say I want the gym to supplement my training I mean I'm going there for very specific reasons, mostly strength training and cardio. Obviously I prefer Kung Fu to be my primary source of exercise. I also don't want to bulk up like a gorilla and lose what flexibility I have. I'm going to have to come up with a dynamic workout routine and really focus on stretching more. My flexibility needs lots of work, especially in my hamstrings. I'm starting to suspect that many of my issues with certain techniques and forms can be traced to the tightness in the back of my legs, mostly around the calves.

I've never liked gyms to be honest and I get bored easily unless I am doing some sort of activity. That's why I've always played sports and been outdoorsy! You get exercise AND entertainment.

Ouch

So far its been a bit of a slow start in a few areas. My body isn't what it used to be so my fitness level will be an obstacle for awhile. Last weekend after the banquet I did a few hundred situps/pushups as well as some weight training. As a result I was so sore for the next few days that I couldn't even think of doing another pushup.

All the pullups in the black belt class paired with a little kwan dao training killed my biceps. I woke up this morning to the aching itch in my arms. So it looks like I'll be slowly increasing my numbers as my strength and stamina increase. I can already see the results!