2010 As I Saw It.

Happy New year!
Here's to 2011!

Merry Christmas!

"Your ankle's messed up."

That was the official unofficial diagnosis I got from Dr. Henry "Hank" F. Pelto III this past week when I went in to get the MRI results on my left ankle. You may recall my R.I.M. post from back in September; we now have confirmation that it wasn't just any ankle sprain...

1. Bone marrow edema present within the media malleolus and adjacent medial aspect of the talus. Translation: areas of fluid, likely the swelling that's been existent since this all happened.

2. Non-descernible anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, consistent with tear. Attenuation of the deep fibers of the deltoid ligament are also consistent with tear / strain. Translation: two major ligaments gone. Completely gone. Not good.

3. Tear of the anterior tibiofibular syndesmotic ligament. Translation: Otherwise known as a "high ankle sprain"... if the ligament was still intact. Here, it's just gone.

4. Longitudinal split tear of the distal posterior tibial tendon. Focal strain of the peroneus brevis tendon just distal to the lateral malleolus. Translation: bad news. With this complete tear, any downward pressure on my foot causes the two bones in my lower leg to separate as this tendon would normally hold them together. I often feel this especially when I bump my heel on a stair step, for example.

So, now the Good News / Bad News Game... Good news... I'm not a wussy! I have been in pain all of these past three months! Bad news... surgery is likely my only option to eliminate pain and to get back to a path where I can do things like... walk across uneven ground... jog... play volleyball... without pain.

It's good to know what's up with the ankle in light of the fact of what I felt when it happened and the pain I face to this day. I asked Hank if I should be pissed at the original doctor who kept telling me it was "just a sprain, probably a pretty good one" and refused to do an MRI. He backed me off the ledge and said the path I've been on to date is a normal one and one he also would have recommended.

That Hank... he's got a way with words!

Aperitivo!

While I couldn't get many sights in yesterday, I had one of the most wonderful Milanese experiences tonight: the Aperitivo!

You & I might call this phenomenon "Happy Hour", but the key word here is PHENOMENON! It was incredible! Emanuela and I went to Corso Sempione -- near Milan's Peach Arch (Arco della Pace) -- and one of her favorite Aperitivos. Ultimately, it was a super chic, well-designed bar (seriously! awesome design; you should have seen the basement bathrooms!), sit down, order (and pay) for a beverage, then take advantage of a HUGE buffet!

We might be pupu at home; maybe even a basket of nachos and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. Here, you might pay a bit more for the drink (a whopping 7 Euros each... or $9.75, including tax & gratuity!), and the food was incredible! Pastas, cous cous, sausages, skewers, salads, potato wedges, gnocci! I ultimately had two drinks and two rounds of full plates. Dinner, friends, was served! And in an oh so Milanese way!

Milan. Well, I tried!

Buongiorno from Milan! This trip wouldn't be this trip without yet another flight and a continued swollen ankle. This time, I find myself in Italia!

After checking in to the hotel, I took a chance with the weather and headed out -- sans umbrella, mind you -- on the Milan subway to try to find Santa Maria delle Grazie and visit one of the most famous (& controversial) works of art in the world, Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Summer'.

Unfortunately, by the time I arrived (~3PM), they were sold out of tickets for the afternoon. Keep in mind that after 21 years of restoration and in a hope to keep this masterpiece around for... ever... they allow only 25 visitors every 15 minutes. Alas that I did not get in, but was OH SO close! I'll plan better next go!

Oh, and when I walk by the umbrellas available for use in the hotel lobby, I'll take one. Hello DRENCHED!

Lazy Saturday

Today is the first day in well over two weeks that I had no obligation. No plane to catch. No job to get to. No schedule to keep. And I so needed it.

After work last night, I ventured out to East Putney to enjoy dinner with my dear friends Brian, Kirsten & Tess Hennigan (the latter whose first birthday is in two weeks!). I made it home late and slept in this morning even later. HEAVEN.

I enjoyed a super slow morning here at the hotel, then enjoyed a trek to the mayhem that is Borough Market, one of the largest food markets in the world. I must tell you, Avid Reader, even as one of the largest, it still wasn't large enough as it was PACKED. One could argue that the masses of people were my worst nightmare, but the sights and smells and stalls were incredible and I enjoyed nearly every moment.

Later, Brian Hennigan arrived with Tess and we enjoyed a pint at The Market Porter before heading to nearby to The George Inn for more beverages with some of his friends. Oh, and it just happens to have been serving the local community for the past three... HUNDRED... years. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Anyhoo, Brian had to head home to get Tess to nap, and I ultimately ended up hanging out a bit longer, enjoying laughs with his buddies Mark and Frank. A good time altogether!

And now I'm back at the hotel, packing up for tomorrow's obligation: my flight to Milan for two days of work in our Italy office. My journey is coming to a quick conclusion... and I'm home to Copperlicious soon!

There and Back Again

I spent an oh so quick 29 hours in Paris this week. The EuroStar train arrived at 11:30AM on Wednesday and I was back at Gare du Nord train station by 4:30 on Thursday. Though planned that way, I regret not getting more time. My colleague Emanuela said it best: 'Paris just seems like one of those cities that take over your heart.' Amen to that.

So, bonjour, Paris!
Et au revoir trop vite.