Tristan's Tantalizing Thoughts

The weekend is here! After another insanely busy week at work I can relax. I just picked my first batch of home grown basil from my patio garden. Can you say Pesto? I'm going to wait a bit, pick some more leaves and then make a big batch that I can freeze in several containers.

The oregano and rosemary are doing great and I have tomatoes starting to ripen. I may have to try that tomato sandwich that greenleader was talking about!

I have Brandon this weekend and I decided we are going to day trip Ocean City tomorrow. I want to get in a little more beach time with him before my surgery.

Ahhhhh.

I had a great 4th of July! Jen dropped Brandon with me in the afternoon. Brandon and I saw the new Ice Age movie (in digital 3D), went to dinner (he got to make his own pizza), and then walked across the street from the Columbia Mall to set up our chairs for optimum fireworks viewing. We lucked into a GREAT spot and were treated to a very close, very good display.

Hope everyone else had a great time too!

San Diego was awesome! WOOHOO!

I was back at work today. BOO!

Brandon and I had a great week out there! WOOHOO!

My boss already has generated more work for me. BOO!

Four day work week! WOOHOO!

The student I am mentoring still doesn't have an ID card so I have to escort him every...wait for it.............WHERE! BOOO!


Pictures to follow...

I'm a leaving, on a jet plane...San Diego bound with Brandon. Gone for a week to see my parents and to go to Sea World, The Wild Animal Park, and maybe Legoland.

Unfortunately, with my potential 2 week absence from work later in the summer for my knee surgery and recovery, I have to hold off on my other one week vacation with Brandon until his winter break (4 weeks on and off away from the office would make my boss truly panic). Sucks since I prefer vacations during the summer break, more fun stuff to do...

If you want to see pictures galore of our camping adventure at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, just click ( here... )

Brandon and I went camping this weekend at Yogi Bear Campgrounds. This was our third time up there and I have it down to a science now. I reserved the camping site already back in April so I would get the one I wanted. Nicely shaded, large, onsite power and water, plus near all the activities Brandon is interested in. I took Friday off from work, packed up the car, picked up Brandon and off we went! He helped me set up camp and did a fine job of cooking hot dogs on a stick over a fire. Brandon watched closely to learn the art of building a good camp fire.

It was the campgrounds 40th anniversary week so Saturday was a HUGE pool party with 50 cent hot dogs and 25 cent sodas (the prices 40 years ago). We spent most of the day at the pool on Saturday, though there was some miniature golf action and a hike around the grounds at the end of the day. We didn't go on the water slides because I decided that with my knee issue caution was probably called for. Sunday consisted of more golf and swishing a bag of dirt to "discover" fossils.

All in all it was as good as it gets. We had perfect temperatures, low humidity, and no rain. Brandon LOVES sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor of the tent and rated the weekend a "two thumbs up awesome" time. There is nothng like sitting by a camp fire with your son just chatting about anything and everything while he attacks his ice cream cone. The finish touch is when he insists on hopping into your chair with you for a little "snuggle time" by the fire...good times and good memories to carry forward in life.

Had my second PT session today for pre-surgery rehab.

Therapist said my already good range has improved some more, swelling is almost gone, and strength is improving. She said: Keep doing the stretches, do the exercises I showed you, maybe see me in 2 weeks...and cancel the rest of your appointments here prior to surgery...you don't need me.

Now if only I don't do something stupid by accident and tear my LCL the rest of the way...

I got a lot of questions at Sapphire so I thought I would share some of them (plus answers, natch):

(1) "What the hell happened to your knee Tristan?!"

Thumbnail sketch...torn ACL, partially torn LCL. I don't have a cool story (though Kynny thought it was..thanks dude) so lets just chalk it up to goofing around.

(2) "So...a brace...does that mean you already had surgery?"

Nope. Brace is to keep me from completely tearing the LCL and will also be used post surgery. Surgery is scheduled for July 30.

(3) "So I guess that means you are done fighting?"

Uh, no, bite me.

(4) "Did you get a new car?"

Yup! Chevy HHR SS Turbo! The Honda CRV had over 220K miles on it and needed over $2K in repairs...I said that sounded like a down payment. Heh.

(5) "You still up in PA?"

Nope. House sold (THANKFULLY!) and I am now in Laurel, Maryland.

(6) "Beer?"

Hell yes.

(7) "Where the hell have you been?"

Well between the move, settling in, work, and now my knee...I've been kind of busy. Expect to see more of me though!

(8) "Excuse me M'lord but I could help but notice your tabard...are you Targue's squire brother?"

*chuckle* Yes, yes I am...

And on a final note, a little birdie helped me out with the names of the rest of the CT people I met: Baroness Isabel d'Avignon (who told some absolutely hilarious stories over dinner), THL Gorm of Berra, THL Rhiannon of Berra (how she pulled this event off and was still smiling I will NEVER know), Lady Alessandra di Venizia, and THL Iohanna Filia Iacobi.

Now that I am well rested and can go into more detail...


I drove down after work on Friday, leaving at about 2:45 pm. Drive was really not that bad, but only because I ended up using the 301. Slowest part of the drive was going through La Plata (stop light, stop light, stop light, police officer, police officer). As I have mentioned through the grace (heh) of wonderful new friend (Graciela) I was able to get a room at the Econolodge near the site. She and Targue came by when I checked in and we all chatted over relatively decent Chinese food. After I settled in, I drove over to the site. I checked in at troll and then I walked around in the dark checking out where everyone was camping. Once I saw the site in daylight the next day, I realized that given my knee this may not have been the best idea in the world but apparently the force was with me and I never stepped in a rut or hole that night.

I arrived on site Saturday at about 9am. Jen flagged me down as I walked by so I got to see the new dayshade and say "hi" to Syr Christian. I schnoogled my boy and then dropped my stuff off. I had asked Master Kevin of Thornbury if I could share shade with him and his family and he had graciously said yes. What I had not know was that I would actually be sitting with those of the Consortium Turrium that were attending the event. I could not have asked for a better bunch of folks to spend the weekend with. They made me feel completely at home. It was not only a pleasure spending time with Kevin and Maestra Salviati (and Tommy...too cute!!!) but also to meet members of their household I had never met before. An added bonus was chatting with Sir Aradd and his lovely wife, THL Sorcha de Glys, and THL Luce Antony Venus. It was nice to get to know Sir Aradd a little better, I had forgotten how much fun it is to chat with Sorcha (and her daughter is a doll!), and it was really good to see Luce again after so long (and meet her boy).

Jen had me come over to her tent to get Brandon into his 14th century garb so I showed Brandon how chausses and brais work. The selling point was when I showed him it was exactly what I was wearing so he would be dressed exactly like daddy! That had him excited, though he pointed out he had no belt and I was not wearing a coif. One black belt later and he was happy as could be!

I watched the fighting, occasionally with Brandon, and then ended up doing a lot of "mock fighting" with Brandon once he announced he was interested in boffer (that's mah boy!). I also got to chat a bit with the Master Miguel and his lovely wife Mistress Violante.

That night was giving Brandon a shower back at my hotel, dinner with the CT (great time!), bardic circle for a bit with House Blackspear, and then lounging with friends watching some belly dancers. It was nice to hang out with Sean de la Mare and Baroness Harlyn. I thought Sean had done some great fighting that day.

Sunday started off cool and then turned humid...until the rain came. I watched the tourneys, played some more with Brandon, chatted with Duke Alaric while he instructed some new fighters, and then slowly made my goodbyes. I managed to pack up right after the first big down pour and then drive home in slightly less than 4 hours.

All in all it was a great time with new and old friends. I can't wait to do it all again!

I had a great time this weekend at Sapphire joust, even though my torn ligaments kept me from fighting. A huge THANK YOU goes out to Graciela for setting me up with a room in the Econolodge....ah air conditioning and a warm shower!

I was honored by the hospitality of the CT and look forward to interacting with them more often. They are a great bunch of people, made me feel right at home with them, and I feel like I have been missing something special by not doing this before. I also got to hang out with my squire brother Targue and some friends in House Blackspear.

I am constantly amazed at who strikes up a conversation with me when I wear my household tabard...this time it was Duke Alaric. I had a blast chatting with him, listening to him instruct some new fighters, and then watching him fight.

Brandon was there with Lisette so he and I got to spend some time together watching the tournaments and mock fighting,. Looks like he wants to try out boffer...and I can't wait to get him all set up with his gear. He is dying to "fight like daddy does."

Jen bought some Historic Enterprise garb for Brandon and he looked AWESOME in it. Below the cut is a picture of him decked out down to chausses and braies, though the bocksten tunic he is wearing was made by Lisette after she studied the one she bought for him...I actually could not tell the difference!

( Goofy 14th Century Boy! )

I am leaving at 1430 to head to Sapphire! Just look for the guy wearing the leg brace and Havordh's colors. I'll be sharing shade with the Consortium Turrium, House Blackspear, and a few others through out Saturday and Sunday.

:-D

http://www.efkitchen.com/Video.html

(1) Will be doing knee surgery for ACL replacement. Found someone I like and who gave me full, gory disclosure on all aspects and possibilities and who did NOT treat me like an idiot.

(2) Said ortho congratulated me on the degree to which I have regained motion in the knee. He gave me the go ahead to continue stretching and add in specific, light weight exercises.

(3) He also gave me the go ahead to do the surgery after my already scheduled June vacation.

( (4) Brandon is doing great in Flag Football )

He is great on offense as well as defense, though he really likes the latter. It is great that he is getting a taste of different types of sports and getting to have so much fun at a level where is not an all consuming thing; though there are already some coaches and parents there that need to take a step back and relax.

The preliminary read of the MRI is done. My ACL is torn, but they didn't say if it was complete or partial. They say "other ligaments" are torn as well, including a "partial tear of a collateral ligament" (they didn't say if it was LCL or MCL). They also mentioned a "non-displaced fracture" is possible.

I am shopping around for a good Orthopedic.

Oh, the other thing that arrived? My new Wisby kit, since my old one hangs on me after all the weight I lost. Ironic?

I had a great time with Brandon on Easter after Jen dropped him off. We had an Easter egg hunt in the apartment and then we went over to the house of a friend of mine from work. Big neighborhood egg hunt and games. Everyone had a blast. It was topped off with a pool noodle war...

My friend and I were goofing around with pool noodles he had cut short. Being non-SCA, he was annoyed with often I was hitting him in the head. As a joke he stepped in to hip toss me...and did it wrong. Audible pop of my left knee. Upon standing pain on the outside of the knee , a little on the inside, no stabilizing, I went down and flirted with shock. Did the RICE bit. My friend drove me home, gave me a bunch of cold packs, and even supplied me with crutches.

As of last night, no visible bruising, slight visible hint of swelling, but putting weight on the knee lets me feel the "water balloon under the skin" feeling indicating fluid. I have crutches, I am occasionally flexing the knee to keep it from getting too stiff, and I have 600 mg ibuprofen in me. I can actually walk slowly without crutches and support 100% of my weight on the if I am careful.

Of course after a night's sleep...it is more swollen, VERY painful, and extremely stiff. Sigh. I am in the process of scheduling a visit to my primary and hoping it isn't the worst possible scenario...

Yup, definitely my boy...

:-D

This one made me just a little homesick...I am looking forward to visiting San Diego with my boy in June...

http://giving.ucsd.edu/wheretogive/annualgiving/videothanks.asp

http://famewatcher.com/2009/03/adam-lambert-in-mt-carmel-high-school.html