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I am back!

It’s been an eventful month and a half, that’s for sure.  As I wrote last time, I ended up aggravating my sciatica in a major way, in a way that involved much more pain than what I was dealing with after the European cruise.  Excruciating pain.  Awful awful pain.  I was basically laid up for a week as I couldn’t stand, sit, or lay down.  If you had offered me a chance to cut off my leg, I would have taken it.  Surprisingly though, during that weekend after the first week of me agonizing trying to find a way to exist without pain, I did find that happy position.  And even more joyous, the pain started ebbing away.  I didn’t dare to hope that it would go away entirely, but I hoped it would recede to a point I could at least drive, go to work, stand, etc.  I worked from home that next week as I was able to sit up, and during that week, it was miraculous how the pain ended up going away.  The next week, I drove back to work.  And during that week, the pain went away entirely.  It was mystifying and a relief.

I’ve since seen a spinal doctor who was only too happy to operate or provide injections, but I deferred and asked for physical therapy at this point.  So I’ve been doing that twice a week the past three weeks.  The exercises have been focused mainly on my core area with a focus on trying to wake up muscles there as well as un-stiffen my back.  It’s working.  So here’s to hoping that I can get back to a decent exercise program as I’m definitely “bulking” up.

There are lots of pictures ahead, and I also wanted to post random videos of stuff that I’ve been obsessed with.  Before the pictures, here’s a performance from this past week’s episode of Glee, which had a disco/Saturday Night Fever theme.  The show has been pretty awful lately, but this was a fun episode mainly due to the musical numbers.  My absolute favorite from the episode was a performance of KC & The Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes”:

Fantastic, right?

Alright, so this weekend, Larry & I went to LACMA to catch the awesome exhibit called Metropolis II.  It’s this huge structure basically filled with tons of slot cars and a crazy amount of tracks winding their way around skyscraper structures.  It’s fascinating and indulges every little kid’s love of race tracks.  It runs during the weekend only, with it running for one hour on, one hour off until the museum closes.  This video catches the very beginning of a rotation:

It’s mesmerizing, and you can hear my various utterances as I fall under its spell!  I also took some pictures when we were there –

Metropolis II at LACMA

21-Apr-2012 13:03, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 320
21-Apr-2012 13:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
21-Apr-2012 13:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 320
 
21-Apr-2012 13:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 400
21-Apr-2012 13:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
21-Apr-2012 13:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800
 
21-Apr-2012 13:05, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 8.258mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
21-Apr-2012 13:05, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
21-Apr-2012 13:06, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 125
 
21-Apr-2012 13:06, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 400
21-Apr-2012 13:07, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 125
21-Apr-2012 13:07, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 16.366mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 800
 
21-Apr-2012 13:07, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
21-Apr-2012 13:09, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 9.369mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 500
21-Apr-2012 13:11, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160
 

The exhibit ends at the end of the month so we cut it pretty close.

If you want to see what else we’ve been up to, well, my picasaweb link has a few more albums in it showing pics from the San Francisco trip (thankfully my sciatica relapse didn’t happen until the day we were planning to come back!), Michancy’s visit last weekend, and other randomness.  Hopefully lots of nice weather in the future and opportunities for pictures.

Here’s a sampling of pics:

San Francisco Trip, Day 1, March 2012

Driving Up the California Coast

03-Mar-2012 07:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125
03-Mar-2012 07:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 320
03-Mar-2012 07:55, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
 
03-Mar-2012 08:00, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 08:00, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 08:02, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 400
 
03-Mar-2012 08:08, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160
03-Mar-2012 08:09, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 8.924mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 125
03-Mar-2012 08:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
 
03-Mar-2012 08:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
03-Mar-2012 08:21, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
03-Mar-2012 09:14, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 
03-Mar-2012 10:14, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 10:14, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 250
03-Mar-2012 10:15, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
 

Arrival into San Francisco

03-Mar-2012 17:14, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 9.369mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 17:15, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 13.182999mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 250
03-Mar-2012 17:15, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 13.182999mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
 
03-Mar-2012 17:15, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 7.152mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 17:15, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 7.152mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 17:16, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
 
03-Mar-2012 17:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 6.491mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 17:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 17:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
 
03-Mar-2012 17:20, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 17:20, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
03-Mar-2012 19:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
 

Wandering Around Fisherman’s Wharf

03-Mar-2012 19:11, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250
03-Mar-2012 19:21, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
03-Mar-2012 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
 
03-Mar-2012 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
03-Mar-2012 19:24, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 7.815mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
03-Mar-2012 19:24, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800
 
03-Mar-2012 19:24, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 8.924mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 3200
03-Mar-2012 19:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 7.594mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 3200
03-Mar-2012 19:26, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 3200
 
03-Mar-2012 19:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800
03-Mar-2012 19:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 3200
03-Mar-2012 19:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 3200
 
03-Mar-2012 19:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 3200
03-Mar-2012 19:29, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800
03-Mar-2012 19:29, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800
 

San Francisco Trip, Day 2, March 2012

Going to Alcatraz!

04-Mar-2012 10:34, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 10:34, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
04-Mar-2012 10:47, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, ISO 80
 
04-Mar-2012 11:50, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 11:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 11:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 250
 
04-Mar-2012 11:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 400
04-Mar-2012 12:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 12:02, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
 
04-Mar-2012 12:03, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 12:03, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 12:03, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 7.815mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 
04-Mar-2012 12:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 12:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 12:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 8.702mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 

Touring Alcatraz

04-Mar-2012 12:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 12:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160
04-Mar-2012 12:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
 
04-Mar-2012 12:30, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160
04-Mar-2012 12:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 125
04-Mar-2012 12:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
 
04-Mar-2012 12:34, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
04-Mar-2012 12:34, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
04-Mar-2012 12:38, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 7.373mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
 
04-Mar-2012 12:41, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 500
04-Mar-2012 12:46, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 320
04-Mar-2012 12:49, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250
 
04-Mar-2012 12:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
04-Mar-2012 12:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250
04-Mar-2012 12:56, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 400
 

Biking Across the Golden Gate Bridge

04-Mar-2012 16:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 320
04-Mar-2012 16:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 16:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
 
04-Mar-2012 16:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 16:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 16:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
 
04-Mar-2012 16:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 125
04-Mar-2012 16:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 16:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
 
04-Mar-2012 16:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
04-Mar-2012 16:48, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 250
04-Mar-2012 16:48, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
 
04-Mar-2012 16:49, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 16:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
04-Mar-2012 17:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 7.594mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
 

Off to Chinatown & Lombard Street!

04-Mar-2012 19:54, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1000
04-Mar-2012 20:16, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 8.48mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 3200
04-Mar-2012 20:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800
 
04-Mar-2012 20:55, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 12.281001mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 1250
04-Mar-2012 22:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
04-Mar-2012 22:33, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1600
 
04-Mar-2012 22:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1000
04-Mar-2012 22:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1250
04-Mar-2012 22:36, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1000
 
04-Mar-2012 22:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 2500
04-Mar-2012 22:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 3200
04-Mar-2012 22:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 6.491mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 3200
 
04-Mar-2012 22:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 7.152mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 2000
04-Mar-2012 22:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 13.409mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 3200
04-Mar-2012 22:49, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800
 

San Francisco Trip, Day 3, March 2012

Admittedly, there isn’t many pics here – that would be because I was suffering agonizing sciatic pains.  Yay.  But I had to take some pics of the Transamerica building as we were driving right for it!

05-Mar-2012 12:34, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 6.932mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
05-Mar-2012 12:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 11.381mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
05-Mar-2012 12:36, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 8.258mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
 

That’s enough for now – I’m just glad to finally have gotten back on board with this.  More to come, I’m sure.

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