Shannon B. Chenoweth

My current position at work allows me the freedom to listen to my iPod when I don’t have to make or take a phone call. This allows me to not only listen to some of my favorite music, but also to listen to all sorts of podcasts.

Two of my favorite podcasts to download and listen to on a daily basis are KFI AM 640’s Bill Handel show and the Tim Conway Jr. show. I have found both shows to be very entertaining and just simply fun to listen to during my work day. I’ve even subjected family and friends to endure portions of show bits that I’ve found most laugh out loud funny.

What’s weird about that? Well, KFI is out of Los Angeles. The news and events these guys speak of tends to have little to do with things that would matter to someone living in Florida. Yet, I can’t stop tuning in (Tim Conway Jr.’s What the Heck Did Jesse Jackson Say? is worth listening no matter where you live). If only the Sunshine State had radio personalities as interesting and engaging, then maybe I’d download and listen to something local. Sadly, I doubt that will ever happen. I mean, it *is* Florida. Personally, I don’t tend to expect much from my current home state. Like Agent Mulder said on an episode of The X-Files, “all the nuts roll down to Florida.”

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Last Friday afternoon, my doctor called me and informed me of the results of my MRI. I have a herniated disk, as well as some spondylosis in my back. Finally, after being out of work for over two weeks, I had an answer to what had been going on. My doctor informed me that I could do the physical therapy and see how that goes or, I could go see a specialist and get some steroid shots in my back. I have opted for the physical therapy first in hopes that it will be all I need. I hate to have to get injections if I don’t need them.

Today, I went for my second physical therapy session. The PT is using sports massage techniques as well as some electro-therapy to get my muscles to relax. We should know if it’s working next week hopefully. Today’s treatment went well. My PT told me I was free to go back to cardio workouts in the gym. I can now use the treadmill and the elliptical, and then in the next week or two, I should be able to get on a bike again. As far as my running goes, the PT said that resuming running in about 8 weeks should be okay. I just need to build up some more strength in my back and legs. And, it’s back to work this Thursday! I’m actually looking forward to getting back to work, as being home for almost three weeks on restrictions is no fun.

On the writing front, I am working on a few projects, as this down time has inspired me to get moving on some things I have been putting off for one reason or another. I will be getting back into doing Julia Cameron’s The Artists Way this week as well. I believe the daily journal writing really did help me, so I miss doing them. I had been borrowing the big hardcover Artists Way trilogy from the library, so that had to go back to them. However, I got a softcover copy of just The Artists Way online that should be arriving in the next few days. Once it does, I will jump back into the tasks and such with week five which is about where I got distracted and left off.

Photography-wise, I did get out a bit recently to take some pictures. Definitely not a lot, as I was pretty restricted on what I could do for awhile with the injury. This Saturday is the Central Florida Earth Day Festival in downtown Orlando, so I look forward to shooting some photography out there. The event itself should be a great time. I will be going with my best friend (whom I just reconnected with last month!) and her little daughter. Looking forward to getting out with my camera again more regularly, as I really love being out there shooting pictures.

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(this is based upon a prompt from Toasted Cheese)

She loved whipped cream in her coffee. Every morning, when she came bustling
through those glass doors, I knew her order right down to that oh so scrumptious
topping.

But, who was I, a lonely barista at the local coffee shop. Why would an amazingly
beautiful redhead such as herself go for me? I knew I was out of her league. Sure,
she smiled that adorable sideways grin at me each day as I added that whipped
topping to her simple two shot latte. But, that was the extent of our relationship.
Barista and coffee drinker. The line was as clear as the counter that separated
us at the hips.

These were the thoughts that flooded my college brain that morning as I started my
shift. I tied my apron on behind my back and wondered what could be if only I were
more than what I was, a barista.

Right on the tick, she glided into the shop. Reality seemed to come to a crawl,
almost as if someone hit the “pause” button on a DVD player. Everything and everyone
but her stopped at that moment. Her movements from the door to the counter were in
a graceful, yet slow motion. When she did reach that counter, the counter that has
always kept us two worlds apart, she tossed her curly Annie-like red hair aside her
left shoulder and smiled at me. Her green eyes seemed to sparkle like two gems in
the sunlight.

“Good morning, Tyler.” She spoke, in my direction, “how are you today?”

My throat suddenly tightened up and turned into the Sahara Desert. She was speaking.
Speaking to and at me. This was new. Usually, I just got that smile. And, she knew
my name. I couldn’t believe it. Somehow, I managed to open my mouth in an attempt
to respond to her query. “I-I-I’m good.”

Yeah, that’s good Tyler, stutter. Stutter and say as little as possible. Now she’ll
definitely think you’re an idiot.

“That’s good. I’d like the usual, please.” She replied, still smiling at me.

“Of course, latte and whipped cream coming right up.” I heard the female voice of my
co-worker Charlotte say from next to me at the espresso machine.

Not pleased that Charlotte jumped into my conversation, I managed to form a small
toothless grin at my favorite customer. Charlotte began making the latte while I
just stood there, seemingly frozen in time.

A minute or so later, but what felt like an eternity, Charlotte put the finished
latte drink in front of me. “Here ya go Tyler, just needs the whipped cream,” Charlotte
informed me.

Picking up that can of whipped cream, I began adding the finishing touches to the
drink. When done, I popped on a top and picked up the drink. Looking up, there she
was, my red-headed customer still grinning.

“Here you go ma’am,” I murmured, handing her the drink.”Have a nice day.”

She took the drink and began to head back toward those glass doors. My heart sank.
Why couldn’t I just say something to her? Why couldn’t I just ask her? I needed to
be brave and just ask. what was the worst that could happen? She could laugh and
reject me. That was what could happen. But, what if-what if she didn’t? I needed to
go with that small possibility and just ask.

Almost as if my body was acting without my brain, I found myself running around the
counter to the other side and toward the exiting red head.

“Wait!” I blurted out.

She was halfway out the door by the time I reached her and she heard my calling. She
turned and looked my way puzzled.

Now standing just a couple of feet from her, I swallowed hard. “I mean-I-I wondered
if you might want to go out some time. I mean, if you weren’t seeing anyone.”

There it was, I got it out there. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest as I
stood there staring at her.

Her face suddenly went from puzzled to pleased. “Sure. Sure, that would be nice.”

Was I hearing correctly? Did this beautiful woman just say yes? Did she just say
yes to going out with her barista? “Yes?” I asked her, hoping to clarify things.

“Yes, I would like that Tyler,” she responded. “Let me give you my cell phone number,
as I have to get to work. But, that sounds good.”

As she fumbled in her purse, I stood there in shock. It was an amazingly good kind
of shock, but shock nonetheless. She then pulled out a business card and held it out
to me. “That’s my card. My cell number is listed on there. I look forward to your
call.”

With that, she smiled and walked out the door. Looking down at the card that was now
in my shaking hands, I smiled. Not only did I now have a date, I knew my dream coffee
girl’s name, Lilly.

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So, I’m still not really mobile. After a horrible and painful Friday (falling down in agony), I was not doing well by Saturday morning. Ended up calling the on-call doctor on Saturday. She called in some different meds for me which seem to help some, but not enough.

Went to church yesterday for Easter with my parents and it was not a good experience. First off, mom had to help me get dressed since it was not easy getting my pants on. I felt like I was helpless and did not like that feeling at all. When we got to church, I could not get comfortable no matter what position I tried in that chair. I did manage to make it through the Pastor’s sermon thankfully, but it wasn’t easy. The drive home was not a good one. I was very uncomfortable sitting in the car. Took a lot out of me just getting to and from church.

I rested the rest of Sunday, mostly drifting in and out of sleep as the meds do cause drowsiness. I didn’t mind that since it allowed me to really relax and not have to deal with my back. Woke up today and despite feeling somewhat better, it didn’t take long before my body started expressing it’s unhappiness to me. Thankfully, my back hasn’t spasmed more than a couple of times, but I’m also taking it very easy. Now, I’m just waiting for the doctor’s office to call me about getting an MRI done or something to hopefully get a better idea of what is going on.

Honestly, I cannot wait until this crud goes away and I can get on with my life. I want to not only be able to be myself again and do what I want and need to do, but I want to get back out there with my running and workouts. This lying around the house business is the pits.

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One-Minute Writer Prompt: Write about a way you need to catch up in your life. Or, if you prefer…write about ketchup.

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Things have been crazy but great the last couple of weeks. I truly feel blessed and couldn’t be happier with where my life is taking me. Church has been going great, as I really like church itself a great deal and feel right at home there each Sunday. The pastor is a great preacher and I enjoy his sermons. Guest speakers have been good as well, always nice to hear another style of getting God’s word out there.

On the work front, I have now been in my new position for two weeks. Well, officially, this week was my first week actually doing the job. Last week consisted of training and then a certification exam at the end of the week of training. Thankfully, I passed and am now certified to take on my new role in the company. Overall, I’m really liking working with the insurance side of the business and I look forward to what the future brings.

My C25k training is finally progressing after overcoming some hurdles with being sick, knee problems and having my wisdom tooth removed. As of this week, I have gotten back on the horse, so to speak, and am now on week 5, day 2 of the training regime. Day two consists of running two eight minute intervals. I ran the day one intervals of five minute intervals on Monday morning, but overcame the five minute mark on Wednesday when I ran eight minutes! I was very proud of my accomplishment in this area. I wasn’t sure I would be able to get past that five minute barrier, but I did it! I ran the same eight minute intervals today and hope to be running the day three, twenty minute intervals by next week. Got to keep progressing!

Last Saturday, after doing the Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Winter Park Road Race, I ended up in a place I could have never guessed I’d be last weekend, a car dealership. My parents are seeking to get mom out of her 1997 Buick, so they were out car shopping. My mom texted me about how great the Mazda dealer seemed to be and mentioned that I might want to just come by and see about getting out of my Saturn Ion. While I thought it would be great to get a new car (my Saturn was not only out of warranty, it was about to cost me some bucks repair-wise and was beginning to make me wonder about it’s reliability on the road), I never really seriously thought it would happen. So, I figured I would stop by and just talk to the salesman for a few minutes and more than likely be on my way since I would need to get out of the Saturn’s car loan as well as get a car payment in the same pricing range to even consider doing business. In the forefront of my mind, those two things weren’t likely to happen. Well, I was wrong. The stars were aligned and things were just meant to be that day because before I knew it, I was shaking hands and signing papers. I left the dealership hours later in a Mazda, leaving my little red Saturn behind. It was a little bittersweet, as “Clark,” (that’s the name I gave the car back when I first got it in 2007) and I had been through a lot, that car took me to Asheville, North Carolina and back more than a couple of times. However, as they say, all good things must come to an end. I will now be driving my little blue Mazda around town. Now, if I can just come up with a name for it…

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It’s been a crazy last couple of weeks. First, the weather went from the nice 70-something-degrees back to the crazy 30s and 40s. This sudden weather change seemed to have caused my right knee to have problems. I have knee pain on and off, but haven’t dealt with it in awhile. So, when I woke up about a week ago with horrible knee pain, I was not pleased. This meant that my C25k training would be put off yet again. But, I knew that I had to rest up for at least a couple of days or I might really injure myself.

Then, as I was feeling better this past weekend and about to again restart my training, I got sick. Sometimes, you just can’t catch a break I guess. A cold hit me like a rock. I went to church Sunday morning, but other than a quick stop at the grocery store, I spent my Sunday in bed resting up with nausea and congestion. This winter definitely hasn’t been one for a good immune system it seems. I was going to try to get out and workout on Tuesday or Wednesday pre-dentist appointment, but my knee pain returned on Monday afternoon along with the continual cold fun.

Yesterday, was my dentist appointment to get a wisdom tooth extracted. I had the bottom one on the opposite side removed in December 2008, so apparently, this tooth was the next that needed to go. It had been bothering me a great deal on and off the last few months. So, of course, once you have oral surgery, no physical activity can be done for at least a couple of days. I’m just now, as I type this feeling better from the surgery. It was a rough experience, having the tooth removed. The dentist had some difficulty with a piece of the root and was trying to get that one piece out. Apparently, it is close to the nerve which was not good. The dentist decided to let it be after a few attempts, telling me that the piece will more than likely find its way out at some point. I don’t recall the extent of the pain I had last time around, but this experience was definitely a rough one. I had horrible jaw pain even all through the night. The dentist had to call in a more powerful pain pill for me even late yesterday. I’m not one who usually likes to take that sort of thing, as I have a pretty high pain threshold, but this pain was just beyond what I could bare. Nothing like trying to drink some water and the pain that comes over you makes you feel as though you might pass out. I’ve already decided that if I need to have the top two wisdom teeth removed, I’m going to a specialist who can knock me out for the surgery, as it is a tough thing to go through. I definitely hope to avoid any further dental surgery for a long long time.

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One Minute Writer Prompt:
You are determined to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games. What event will you ask that they include so that you will be sure to win?

While I firmly believe that everyone is capable of so much more than they allow themselves to try and do, you cannot be sure that you will take home the gold. You can never know what the result will be or how your competitors will perform. Even the best athletes can never determine if they will come out on top on game day. As far as the event itself goes, I would have to say maybe softball. I used to play Little League as a kid and with practice and enthusiasm, I think I could be a good ball player again and do well. If nothing else, I know I would have a good time playing and do my best out there on the field.

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One Minute Writer Prompt:
Have you ever had 15 minutes of fame? If so, write about it. If not, would you like to?

Well, I’ve sort of had a bit of so-called fame when I was younger. While I was volunteering at one of the local hospitals as a teen, I had an opportunity to be on Good Morning, America and Good Morning, Florida. They were brief appearances, just a few seconds a piece, but it was definitely a fun and interesting experience that I probably won’t forget. More so, it was a neat perk of being a junior volunteer as a kid.

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One-Minute Writer Prompt:
Explain how you feel during a rain or snow storm.

Considering that I’ve never been through a snow storm (yet), I can only describe how I feel during a rain storm. Having lived in Florida most of my life, we get a lot of bad thunderstorms and tornado type weather. Most of these are pretty uneventful, but there’s always a few that can cause those little bumps to appear on your skin. Those really horrible storms are just that, horrible. Power tends to go out and you end up sitting in the dark awaiting the experience to pass by and just be over with. If it’s the summer, you could be sitting in the sweltering heat for hours. Not a good feeling in the slightest. You just hope it passes by quickly.

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