Black Friday

We like to spend Black Friday in Milwaukee's third ward.  There are no big mobs of crazy shoppers, no getting up in the middle of the night to get the deals, just a nice, leisurely walk through the downtown shops where they offer cookies, cakes and even mimosas to customers while they shop.  This year we started our venture with a bloody mary at the Wicked Hop.  We went through many awesome shops where we found deals on ornaments, kitchen wares, accessories, and other little trinkets.  We ended our trip with a stop at Milwaukee Cupcake where we got these. 

I took this photo because this year was very different.  Jeff got up before 5 and headed out.  I didn't know what he was up to but when he got home, he handed me a Canon Rebel EOS.  Wow, what a surprise!  He didn't want to wait until Christmas to give it to me, he preferred that I had some time to figure it out before the big Christmas holiday. So this is my first time trying it out.

My Back Pain - Spinal Injections

I scheduled the spinal injection for as soon as possible.  Waiting three weeks was difficult.  I was nervous about the whole thing but I wanted to feel better. We got to the hospital and checked in.  I was surprised when I didn't even need a hospital gown. I just laid on a table that has an x-ray machine over it and the doctor injected by back with some local anesthesia and threaded her needle into my spine as she watched the image from the x-ray machine.  It was done from start to finish in less than 10 minutes.  I sat in an exam room afterwards for 30 minutes to ensure there were no complication and then I was ready to go. 

It was lunch time so we went over to Sobelman's and had a Bloody Mary and a burger.  It felt good to do something normal after the stress of the unknown from this morning.  We went home and I relaxed for the rest of the day.  In the morning I could already tell the numbness was going away. I could now feel the top of my foot and only two of my toes were numb instead of all of them.  By the following week, I felt numbness free. 

Too bad it didn't last.  The one thing the doctor did explain is that it doesn't always work the first time.  It can take up to three injections to work. It lasted about two and a half weeks so I called immediately to schedule another one.  I worried about getting on the schedule and sure enough, I have to wait until November 9.  This time I was much more prepared, no fear, no worry, just ready to get it done. Luckily it did work this time.  No more going back for a while. It's too bad the running season is over.

Trip to San Diego

BJ had an extra ticket to the Packer game in San Diego.  And on a whim, I took him up on the offer to use it.  I booked a flight and found us a room for the weekend.  He had to work in SD the day I flew in so it worked out really well.  He picked me up from the airport after his workday was done. 
It was raining when I got there but the temperature was nicer than home.  As I sat in the airport, it was incredible to see flight after flight full of people wearing the Packer green and gold.  So many fans. BJ made plans with his co-workers to head to the Gaslamp district for the evening.  We stopped at a really good restaurant called Lou and Mickey's for a nice dinner then headed over to Whiskey Girl where the place was hopping.

Saturday morning we went for a drive and stopped at a roadside bazaar where I did some shopping.  The view of the ocean was incredible and the weather was perfect, high 60s and sunny.  We drove the coast for a long time.  Since we had no real plans I talked BJ into stopping at a Harley dealer where I bought myself a souvenir shirt.  Then we did the most amazing thing, we went to Quilt in a Day.  Yes, he took me to a quilt shop! And not just any quilt shop, Eleanor Burns' shop!  I was in heaven.  BJ was incredibly gracious about the whole thing and I think he even got a little interested when he noticed that her television studio was in the room next to the store.

After that, we drove back to the hotel all the while in view of the Pacific Ocean.  What a great city.  We got to the hotel in Oceanside in time to watch some college football and hang out in the local bar which was also on the water.  The views were fantastic no matter where we were. 
Sunday was the best day ever. Perfect weather and a parking lot filled with Packer fans.  Qualcomm was impressive but not pretty, not like Lambeau at all. This place was all cement and little character, where Lambeau was all history.