bringing out emtions that you never knew you had...

I've been meaning to post this for some time now. Well, at least ever since I got back from Japan which was way back in Feb. I've talked to some people about it, other will be hearing this for the first time...

Being born in Japan but raised here, I'd never previously had the opportunity to visit Hiroshima. Now that I had a railway pass (ulimated travel on the Shinkansen-system) I wasn't about to pass up this chance. I was hoping that either my sis or ma would come with (they had been there before) but both refused. It was probably for the best.

Let me set the mood. It was a cloudy and dreary day. There was no sky to be seen, just an endless stretch of grey and misty rain falling non stop. It was a very somber atmosphere. It suited the site I was to visit on this day.

It was the Peace and Memorial Garden/Park (I'm annoyed I don't remember the exact name of this place). As soon as you get off the light rail the imagine below hits you...

That's the Atomic Bomb dome. It what remains from the building that was pretty much directly below where the bomb exploded. Imagine it though surrounded in mist and it coming clearer as you got closer. It was that type of weather.

As you work your way around this park, you encounter the Peace Bell, the countless tributes, the memorials and it concludes with the mueseum. I'm not a shamed to admit that I had saltwater well up in my eyes several times as I spent a good 2-3 hours here. I think the weather might have contributed to that though. :P

What suprised me the most is how emotional I got. It was kinda shocking but also inspiring at the same time. It's something that's affected a lot of people in Japan, and even probably the world. I guess thinking of it that way, it's no wonder I was. lol.

If you ever get the opportunity to go to Japan. Please visit it. It might not effect you in the way it did me. But I'm pretty sure it's an important part of world history and something that we all need to learn from.

Peace,

iP.

Long road back...

Results are in. But it's not anything I wasn't already expecting...

I have a full tear in my ACL in my right knee. But you couldn't tell by just looking at me. lol. I feel fit as a fiddle, just can't play any sport that involves turning, twisting and the like. I'm kinda like Zoolander now...except I can't turn right either. I'm walking in a straight line~~~! :P

Anyway, so what's the next step you may ask?

According to the physio (yes, the same hot one. :P), I'll definitely need surgery to get my knee good enough to play again. I can opt not to have surgery but apparently it'll never heal on its own. Dang. It doesn't look like I have much of a choice do I? I guess the only thing that would REALLY stop me from getting surgery is the cost. As in whether I can afford it or not.

The other thing is, even with the surgery, my knee will never be 100% again. 80-90% at best. But like I said, strong enough to allow me to play sports again. Also apparently there will be a 12 month rehab process. Double dang. Is it really going to be worth it? It's not like I play sports professionally.

Either way, I'm meeting the Orthopaedic Surgeon on Tuesday week (30th). He'll be able to tell me more and discuss it in more detail before I make my decision. Either way, it's a long wait and road back, it seems...

As for now, I'm concentrating on strengthening the muscles around the knee. Especially my quad. It won't help with the healing, but it'll help with the support. It's the only thing I can do at the moment...

Just on an end note though, it's kinda ridiculous how long this process is taking. The lag is the worst. Good thing I don't have a life threatening illness. I'd probably be dead by now.

peace out,
Ip.

all gone?

Hmmm. So much for the "walk it off" attitude that most us, males, have. :P

Visited the physio on Wednesday, to check out my troublesome knee. Turns out it could potentially be a lot worse than I had expected. Afterall, I can walk, jog, jump, step and hop like I could before. All I can't do is play high impact sports. lol.

After testing out my knee until I cried out in pain, the physio (who was hot, might I add) concluded that I may have a torn ACL. That's the Anterior Cruicate Ligament to those playing at home. At least she told me I showed positive signs of it. What ever that means...

So the next step is to get an MRI scan done to confirm this. It's all speculative at the moment but I'm bracing for the worst. And the worst case scenerio is that I need to have knee surgery to repair it, especially if I want to be playing basketball again anytime soon. Bummer. :S Of course, I could choose NOT to have surgery but the rehab and healing process will keep me off the courts for longer, I would suspect.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. First thing is first. The MRI.

I was given a list of places I can go to get it done. The closest was Albert Park (the next suburb over). I was like "sweet". I call them up. "Yes, I'd like to get a MRI done on my knee." "Sorry, we don't have a MRI machine here. Only the Malvern branch has it" Bullshit. I thought to myself. I call up the Melbourne branch. They tell me the same thing. Dang. What's worse, the earliest date is NEXT Thursday at 9.30am. This is so shit...

So now I wait, with uncertainty on my mind. But with a hint of... excitement? hmmm, that's not the right word. I MIGHT be getting knee surgery man! It's like I'm a big name sports star. lol. Yay-yeah! :P

much love,

Ip.

Fade out?

Gosh, I'm lazy. I used to be pretty good with my blogging...at least i think. Facebook has taken most of my time whilst online i think. It's pure evil. But I can't get enough.

First thing is first I suppose.

My recent interview and application with NOVA Group (the teach in Japan company) was good. Interview went well and I was given a preliminary offer. By in large that meant I was accepted, all I had to do was hand in the paper work and it was confirmed for early 2008.

If only it was that easy...

Only two days before the paperwork was due. As I sat on the tram, actually contemplating what my life back in my homeland would be like, getting excited about the prospect and having already talked to a few friends about getting them to come visit me, I received a phone call.

In short, NOVA Group is in financial strife and cannot guarantee me a position at the moment. They told me to wait a few weeks whilst a few things get sorted and they hear more about it. It'll be two weeks tomorrow since being suspend in time. That's what it felt like anyway. It was like yay! ...aww.

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Getting back on a basketball court was something I was looking forward to and something that was meant to be a happy return. It was three months since last playing and spraining my knee. I had been stepping up my cardio training in particular to strengthening my knee and I jog without a problem.

The movements in basketball are so not like jogging. lol.

I nervously got back on the court warming up and stretching out to minimise impact and maximise mobility. Jump shot. Way short. But that's how I always start anyway. Once I got back into the rhythm, jumping up and down and chasing down the ball was not a problem. I was happy. I was back!

Some randoms came over to challenge us in a little three-on-three. I could barely hide my excitement...and that's as far as it went. Moving in straight lines is easy. I couldn't slide to the side, change direction or put absolute power in my knee without pain.

It was frustrating because the pain didn't last. It was in those short sharp pains when I needed to move. I gave up. Being the fittest I've been in ages, yet I can't make a sudden turn. :(

I need to rehab my knee. Schedule in an appointment with physio next door. I can't wait for my knee to be fully right again. Kick some ass on the court.

much love,
Ip.