knee update!

So quick update for anyone wondering about my knee: I am walking and no longer using crutches for the last couple weeks! Yay! I do get sore sometimes walking long distances, and going down stairs is still not really an easy option, but I am walking, and that makes me excited. Today it was a little sore, which may be from the weather, or maybe the decision to try on heels the other night, but it is feeling better after physical therapy today. Last weekend I was set on putting a brace on and going hiking, but I realized that may not be the best idea quite yet. I'm hoping it doesn't get too cold before my knee gets strong enough to go on some easy trails! I won't be running for another month or more, but I can bike and hop on the elliptical occasionally. So slow and steady it goes, but that is better than not at all! I'm trying to be optimistic, and so far it is working out well. I'll keep you guys updated!

are you an organ donor?

As of today, there are 104,043 people waiting for an organ in the United States. People on this list die every day waiting for an organ, and the wait can be years. There are many more people who aren't on this list because the wait would be too long, including over 300,000 people on dialysis. The shortage of organs is a serious problem, but it doesn't have to be. The way I see it, there are many potential donors who haven't thought about it, or haven't made their wishes and values clear. The system we have relies on people choosing to donate, which is different from many countries in Europe that have "Opt-Out" systems. Individual rights are not compromised in this system, since every individual has the right to choose not to donate. But for such a system to be enacted in the US, vigorous education and publicity about the change in policy would be required so that every individual is informed enough to make the choice to opt-out if they want to. As long as there is an easy way to opt-out, and patients know about the system, this seems like one of the better solutions to the huge organ shortage. But until the organ donation system is modified to increase organ supplies, individuals can make the conscious choice to be an organ donor and check that little box at the DMV. There are objections and fears to organ donations, many religious, but if you don't have any reason not to, it seems like an easy way to save another person's life. So are you an organ donor?

changing seasons

It's beginning to look a lot like fall. It's October, UVAs fall break and the leaves are starting to change. I'm currently in Deep Creek Maryland with Tom for break being lazy, catching up on reading (actually using those reading days!) and admiring this pretty place. Driving up from Virginia, it was like driving thru the season as the leaves changed from mostly green to a mosaic of green, bright oranges, reds and yellows. Although I'm not looking forward to the oncoming cold weather, I do love certain things about autumn; the changing leaves, the fresh air, cozying up with chai tea, and the smell of fall itself. I almost want to head back up to Connecticut for these things, but right now I'm going to try and prolong summer and head out on Tom's boat for some more reading,

Happy autumn!

Baller Twin

This weekend, I drove down to Washington and Lee University in Lexington VA to see my twin sister's field hockey game. It was my first time really driving since the surgery, but it went well and safely and felt normal, and was totally worth it since my sister scored the winning goal-they won 2-1. It was a really exciting game, and it is exciting she had a game somewhat near me! I feel pretty honored to be sisters with the currently tied for first goal scorer of JHUFH. Go Hop.


Check out the sweet high light article:
http://www.hopkinssports.com/sports/w-fieldh/recaps/091409aaa.html

a-trophy

So I didn't know if you would be able to tell, but you definitely can. My legs are still noticeably different in size. Sorry about the awkward stance in the picture but, my left leg has become intensely muscular from walking around on crutches and hopping everywhere, but my right is still much smaller. It is amazing how fast you can lose muscle tone! And believe it or not, this is after I have started to gain the muscle back. I'm currently maxed out for leg presses at half my body weight until further notice from the doctor, and on good track with my recovery according to my physical therapist, Lloyd. He keeps saying how this part should be boring, since you don't want any exciting or unpredictable surprises or screw ups in the beginning of rehab. But he is right, it is getting pretty boring. I keep trying to be positive, and on a good note: I'm 2/3 of the way done with crutches! but all I want to do is go run around and play soccer. The Women's Club Team has a double header next Sunday--go watch! We just picked up some sweet new girls on Friday!

No more heavy books?

This year, 62 first year students at UVA's Darden School of Business will be testing out Amazon's Kindle DX. The Kindle is a wireless electronic reader that is being tested at 7 different schools this year. Textbooks, case studies and other books can be downloaded on to this reader that is "as thin as a magazine and weighs just over a pound"!

To me, this seems like a great idea. It reduces the amount of paper used to create large textbooks, reduces the volume and weight of things you have to carry to class or the library (great considering today I almost toppled over on my crutches from the weight of my backpack!), and would help out those annoying times when you're trying to find a topic or citation that you know you highlighted somewhere in the 300+ page book with the search feature. And if you're lazy you can just have it read to you.

It seems like the outrageous costs of textbooks today could be slightly reduced by a universal transfer to the Kindle or electronic readers. I know you're paying for informational content and rights to the book, but there would be a huge reduction in physical production of textbooks themselves. And though the initial upfront cost of the reader is pretty steep, you can go on using it, saving trees and trips to the bookstore.

The new Kindle DX can hold 3,500 books! And it reads like 'real paper', and can go for 4 days without a charge! The only possible downsides I can see are the loss of the physical book (sometimes it is nice to have it in front of you), and having to read from a screen (but you can highlight and annotate), and then there is the possibility of crashing--does that happen to Kindles?

I'm pretty old fashioned and I like having the book in front of me, but it seems like they have thought of everything. I don't see how this won't catch on eventually.

Visitors and Polo on what?

So this weekend, my parents came down to UVA to visit. It was a quick one, but we had a full day, with brunch at the Horse and Hound, a good time at King Family Vineyards (though they wouldn't let me taste with my parents because I didn't bring my ID!), a trip to drop Dad off at RIchmond Airport, ever important for college kids grocery shopping, and a yummy dinner with Mom at Mellow Mushroom!

My favorite part of the day, besides my visitors themselves, was probably the Vineyard. It was a gorgeous day, and despite being denied yummy wine, it was still a lot of fun. My parents continued their craze with Viognier while my mom snuck me sips behind the bar. The land itself was gorgeous, with mountains not too far away, lots of grapes, and a huge field with polo being played! Unfortunately we didn't get to watch much of the polo because it ended right as the tasting finished, but it really makes me want to go this coming weekend to see it!

Natalie had told me this, and I was a bit skeptical, but did you know that when it is too hot for horses, polo can be played on Segways? This seemed a little odd to me, until I saw Segways roaming on the polo field after the match, and a polo enthusiast confirmed it.

Example: http://www.bayareaseg.com/Polo.htm