Happy birthday to me... almost. If you are anything like me having a birthday is just another day. I am a bit of a lame-wad when it comes to holidays. Having to work on holidays for the past three years has destroyed any fun that they once meant. As for my birthday this year, nothing says HAPPY BIRTHDAY! quite like waking up at 5:30 to go to school. BUZZKILL
21 is a milestone here in the states. It will be fun to know that I can go to Vegas and actually gamble, and go to big clubs. It is pretty exciting I suppose. I can only think of 2 milestones past 21. Marriage and retirement. Maybe that's why the present feels so lively.... the future seems so bleak. haha
If you aren't living on the edge, you are taking up too much room
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Leg it.
365 days. 1 calendar year. It seems like such a long time, well it's not. Exactly one year ago I was just getting home from the hospital. I had surgery to correct some problems in my lower leg. The surgery was very intensive, total time under the knife was right around 5 hours. For those of you who know anything about surgery, that is a damn long time. I am not really the type to fear a whole lot, but last night one year ago was one of the scariest times of my life. I knew that come 6 a.m. I would be rolled into the O.R. My diagnosis was really rare, and to be double diagnosed with two different problems was even more rare. The surgeon I went to was one of only a handful in the US who even performs the operation I needed. (of those few doctors he is rated the best). Talk about luck, he works out of a hospital 20 minutes from my home.
The Ride:
I won't lie, I knew I wasn't going to have a long recovery. Generally people start walking (unassisted) 2-3 weeks after the surgery. I ditched my crutches 5 days later. I was in the gym trying to ride a bike two weeks out. It was a struggle. Walking around an icy campus with one leg barely movable SUCKED. By pushing my limits and listening to what my body was telling me I was able to run one month later. Just before you go thinking everything was perfect, it wasn't. I had the joy of taking care of an infected incision. It was pretty bad, I liked to play it off like it was nothing, I had a large fluid sack, and tunneling that developed at the bottom of one incision. It took over a month to go away, and I have one hell of an ugly looking scar from it.
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Right at the end of my first month I was scheduled to go to California to see my buddie for spring break. I knew I would be surfing while I was down there. The oceans healing properties are truly incredible. Just a few days after arriving in southern California the infection cleared up. California also marked my first run since the whole fiasco with my leg. It felt awesome to be running up and down the beach. The day after..... not so awesome.
It has been a long year, and I still remember a few milestones in my recovery. I am sure with time those memories will fade, but one thing is for sure. The scars and will power I gained from it all will never fade. I cannot thank my sister enough for staying the night in the hospital. We both knew she wasn't going to sleep well and me setting off machines in my sleep every 30 minutes definitely didn't help. My parents were my rock through it all, though I chose to leave them out of a lot of doctor visits. When it came time for surgery they were there every step of the way. Special thanks to Rhyus for showing up before work to say hi as well. If you ever know someone in the hospital, go visit. Even if they are asleep, just leave a note. It means the world to that person.
This year I have been able to get into the best shape of my life thanks to my "new" leg. I have had the opportunity to live and see new places. This past year has been the best year of my life, surgery included. Sometimes it takes the lowest lows to make the highest highs that much better.
Scar's are our scrapbook that we can take with us everywhere, don't be ashamed of them.
Every scar has a story. This is MY scar story.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
The Ride:
I won't lie, I knew I wasn't going to have a long recovery. Generally people start walking (unassisted) 2-3 weeks after the surgery. I ditched my crutches 5 days later. I was in the gym trying to ride a bike two weeks out. It was a struggle. Walking around an icy campus with one leg barely movable SUCKED. By pushing my limits and listening to what my body was telling me I was able to run one month later. Just before you go thinking everything was perfect, it wasn't. I had the joy of taking care of an infected incision. It was pretty bad, I liked to play it off like it was nothing, I had a large fluid sack, and tunneling that developed at the bottom of one incision. It took over a month to go away, and I have one hell of an ugly looking scar from it.
.jpeg)
Inside Incision
Back of Leg (lower dark spot is where the infection took over)
.jpeg)
Outside Leg
Right at the end of my first month I was scheduled to go to California to see my buddie for spring break. I knew I would be surfing while I was down there. The oceans healing properties are truly incredible. Just a few days after arriving in southern California the infection cleared up. California also marked my first run since the whole fiasco with my leg. It felt awesome to be running up and down the beach. The day after..... not so awesome.
It has been a long year, and I still remember a few milestones in my recovery. I am sure with time those memories will fade, but one thing is for sure. The scars and will power I gained from it all will never fade. I cannot thank my sister enough for staying the night in the hospital. We both knew she wasn't going to sleep well and me setting off machines in my sleep every 30 minutes definitely didn't help. My parents were my rock through it all, though I chose to leave them out of a lot of doctor visits. When it came time for surgery they were there every step of the way. Special thanks to Rhyus for showing up before work to say hi as well. If you ever know someone in the hospital, go visit. Even if they are asleep, just leave a note. It means the world to that person.
This year I have been able to get into the best shape of my life thanks to my "new" leg. I have had the opportunity to live and see new places. This past year has been the best year of my life, surgery included. Sometimes it takes the lowest lows to make the highest highs that much better.
Scar's are our scrapbook that we can take with us everywhere, don't be ashamed of them.
Every scar has a story. This is MY scar story.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Friday, February 1, 2013
Progression
It has been a weird month to say the least. Home doesn't feel like home, friends and family seem changed, and my car is starting to suck my fun money away. I knew it would, and I don't regret buying it, but I do hope the expenses end soon. I have a lot that I want to accomplish this summer, and unfortunately few things nowadays almost everything costs money. I find myself thinking about St. Thomas and Durango every day. I know I preach that we all should be content with where we are, but I will be the first to admit. I am not perfect. Having said that I do look at the mountains daily (when I can, damn inversions) and my surroundings, and think. Damn, it is good to be home.
It has been a rough transition back into life here in Salt Lake. Rougher than expected. I cannot wait to get the ball rolling on my next big adventure. Hopefully soon I will find a job doing something I love again. Yes, I do still love working at Solitude.
This year I am to make plans NOT resolutions.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
It has been a rough transition back into life here in Salt Lake. Rougher than expected. I cannot wait to get the ball rolling on my next big adventure. Hopefully soon I will find a job doing something I love again. Yes, I do still love working at Solitude.
This year I am to make plans NOT resolutions.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Static
Home is where the heart is.... or is it. I am beginning to think that my heart lies on the open road. I find myself searching for the next big adventure. I miss feeling like I am seeing things for the first time. Being home has been a huge shock. Seeing friends has been a lot of fun, but it has also been super sad. A lot of my friends have gotten lazier. It is tough to see close friends with such big dreams, but they are doing nothing to try and achieve them. They are sitting on the side of the road watching cars full of opportunity pass by. Hopefully I can help motivate some of them to go out and get what they want from their youth.
Salt Lake is nothing like St. Thomas. I find little things daily that remind me I am somewhere new, somewhere sterile. Today I was at the store with my dad, and everything was PERFECT. It was overwhelming. Everything on every shelf was turned the right way and stocked fully, and the supermarket didn't smell like salt fish and dust. In St. Thomas shopping in stores is completely different. I miss the laid back atmosphere in St. Thomas. Nobody has any patience here.
Time should never be wasted, but one should fill time with impatience.
It is a wasted day to wish you were somewhere else-
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Salt Lake is nothing like St. Thomas. I find little things daily that remind me I am somewhere new, somewhere sterile. Today I was at the store with my dad, and everything was PERFECT. It was overwhelming. Everything on every shelf was turned the right way and stocked fully, and the supermarket didn't smell like salt fish and dust. In St. Thomas shopping in stores is completely different. I miss the laid back atmosphere in St. Thomas. Nobody has any patience here.
Time should never be wasted, but one should fill time with impatience.
It is a wasted day to wish you were somewhere else-
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Monday, January 7, 2013
Way back home
Wow. What a whirlwind it has been. I have honestly never felt so much like I am everywhere at once, yet nowhere at all. It has been super crazy for me being home. It is funny how much you think you are in the loop, then realize you aren't even close. It has been a weird return. I found out I grew quite a bit while on St. Thomas. Everyone is shorter than I remember.
It has been an interesting few days. Seeing friends and family, meeting new people in class. It is fun/sad to see how much some have changed, and how little others have. I hope that I don't lose sight of my sense of adventure or progression, now what I am home. Maybe it is the weather, maybe it is the familiar faces, maybe it is just that i am too damn assumptive. But since being home I have never seen so many dead people, people who hate where they are at, and aren't willing to do anything to change their situation. My time away has given me so much motivation. There is so much out there in the world, why be content with only seeing and meeting familiar things?
The weeks to come will be crazy, but I am ready. Hopefully i can shake this damn headache i have had since being home. And wish me luck in possibly buying a car today!
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
It has been an interesting few days. Seeing friends and family, meeting new people in class. It is fun/sad to see how much some have changed, and how little others have. I hope that I don't lose sight of my sense of adventure or progression, now what I am home. Maybe it is the weather, maybe it is the familiar faces, maybe it is just that i am too damn assumptive. But since being home I have never seen so many dead people, people who hate where they are at, and aren't willing to do anything to change their situation. My time away has given me so much motivation. There is so much out there in the world, why be content with only seeing and meeting familiar things?
The weeks to come will be crazy, but I am ready. Hopefully i can shake this damn headache i have had since being home. And wish me luck in possibly buying a car today!
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Stop Breaking Down the Doors?
(Just realized how ironic my blog name is)
Crazy day, we get to work today and find out that our store was robbed. What a great way to start the day. The robbers got away with about 6 thousand in cash. They knew what they were doing. But for reals they knew our store a little too well. It is one serious Oceans 11 reenactment. They robbed us after a day when we had 8 cruise ships in..... yea the population of the island doubled. So frustrating. Once we got everything sorted out, we managed to open up and still have a fairly decent day. Everyone in our store handled it so well. I think it says a lot about the kind of people I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 5 months. I can honestly say I will miss them as much as I miss my family. They have been my family for the past 5 months. I can't think of anybody else who I would rather have spent my time with. The people, especially in Del Sol are incredible.
So many crazy things have happened since we have been down here, stolen wheels on a car, managers leaving, store broken into, starting a whole new line of products, all in the middle of busy season. I know I will be leaving my time on STT with my head held high. We broke countless records. I cannot thank our crew in Del Sol enough. I cannot think of any better place to work.
I belong with you, you belong with me in my, sweet home.
And what a home Del Sol St. Thomas has been.
Such a beautiful place to have called home.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors...... unless you are a robber :)
-Kam
Crazy day, we get to work today and find out that our store was robbed. What a great way to start the day. The robbers got away with about 6 thousand in cash. They knew what they were doing. But for reals they knew our store a little too well. It is one serious Oceans 11 reenactment. They robbed us after a day when we had 8 cruise ships in..... yea the population of the island doubled. So frustrating. Once we got everything sorted out, we managed to open up and still have a fairly decent day. Everyone in our store handled it so well. I think it says a lot about the kind of people I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 5 months. I can honestly say I will miss them as much as I miss my family. They have been my family for the past 5 months. I can't think of anybody else who I would rather have spent my time with. The people, especially in Del Sol are incredible.
So many crazy things have happened since we have been down here, stolen wheels on a car, managers leaving, store broken into, starting a whole new line of products, all in the middle of busy season. I know I will be leaving my time on STT with my head held high. We broke countless records. I cannot thank our crew in Del Sol enough. I cannot think of any better place to work.
I belong with you, you belong with me in my, sweet home.
And what a home Del Sol St. Thomas has been.
Such a beautiful place to have called home.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors...... unless you are a robber :)
-Kam
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Numbered
The days are numbered the time is short. It will be a whole new world when I get home. Some things I cannot wait for, others I hope have changed. I can't stop living in the moment. The warm sun is something I will get sparingly when I go home.
Skimming yesterday yielded lots of cuts. I can't wait to hit the beach later, to clean my wounds. The ocean is incredible. It flows in and out of every single one of us whether we know it or not. It honest to god is better than any bottle of neosporin.
Here is a video of Jake and I at Peterborg Point, there has been a huge swell in the past few days, and the cliffs we are sitting on are about 100 yards from where the ocean normally is..... and we are about 80 feet up from the normal waterline. Just to put things into perspective. Yes, we did end up getting soaked a few minutes later.
A piece of me will always be on this island.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
Skimming yesterday yielded lots of cuts. I can't wait to hit the beach later, to clean my wounds. The ocean is incredible. It flows in and out of every single one of us whether we know it or not. It honest to god is better than any bottle of neosporin.
Here is a video of Jake and I at Peterborg Point, there has been a huge swell in the past few days, and the cliffs we are sitting on are about 100 yards from where the ocean normally is..... and we are about 80 feet up from the normal waterline. Just to put things into perspective. Yes, we did end up getting soaked a few minutes later.
A piece of me will always be on this island.
Don't Stop Breaking Down the Doors
-Kam
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