About a month ago, I flew to DC for a "retreat". It was an interesting trip for me because I had never seen Washington. I didn't have much free time, just enough to enjoy a fantastic "steak tartare" at the Café du Coin (hmmm flavors from home!) and long expected sea food at the Sea Catch. I also went for a walk to the National Mall. I wish I had more time to visit the Smithsonian and all these museums. I had to make a choice... and opted for the American History Museum, but on my way there I walked past the Museum of Natural History and couldn't resist.
I first walked through the Mammalian museum and was chased by a herd of little screaming creatures. I moved on to the dinosaurs and fossils and was very impressed by how they present evolution using words and concepts understandable by kids. Who soon followed me in the fossils hall and drove me out of it.
I then went upstairs to see only the first half (unfortunately) of the exhibition called "Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake". Amazing! They illustrate with remains of settlers the way they can discover all sorts of information just by looking at human skeletons.
I had to run out though to be sure not to miss my plane. Which could actually have been a good thing? It turns out the flight from DC to Denver was quite bad, my neighbor being physically unable to fit on her seat, and therefore occupying half of mine. I have this bad habit of not moving during a flight, just trying to sleep, hoping I won't wake up before it's over. I did because my neighbor needed to get up a few times. It wasn't that bad, except for 1) the water she finally spilled on my lap, 2) the fact that I spent 4 hours crooked on an uncomfortable seat.
But what can you do? I could have complained but the plane was packed and I couldn't see how it would have improved my situation. It might have allowed me to vent some of my frustration, and made my neighbor feel embarrassed or upset. great.
The bottom line: I woke up the next day unable to move my back. Had issues in the past, and probably very unshaped abs, but this hadn't happened to me as far as I can remember.
It took me 2 days before being able to go back to work, and 2 weeks and a half before being able to workout again - and this only with the help of my heroes the physical therapists. Chiropractors couldn't help me there. I have to say I feel almost like a professional of lower back issues. I'm ready to help anyone in need...:)
Of course, this affected my ski-days-count (i still made it ti 20, which means I need to find a way to go 12 more days before the end of spring), and also I couldn't continue training for the triathlon and decided to cancel my participation...
Oh well. I have since resumed training (next race should be June 21st), hope to keep this blog a little more updated, and at the same time find a job for next year. Ouch.
