Well, I had many good years of running. This auto-immune connective tissue disease has kinda come out of nowhere. Don't feel bad - we all have to play the cards we've been dealt. If surgery is what it will take to fix it, instead of letting it get worse until I need a knee replacement, then I'll do it. My knee doesn't bend right, it's stiff, it creaks and grinds, and sometimes it gives out. If surgery fixes it, then I can deal with the recovery period if that's what it would take.

I've seen some amazing things. I took a three-week solo road trip across the country, stopping everywhere, talking to people, seeing everything, experiencing everything. Just packed a bag, got in my car, and took off. I believe that everyone should do that. I've got a good life, but the key is that you make your own luck in life. ;)

I'd love to go camping with you out in the desert. Tell me when. It's fall/winter now. When are you coming back? Thinking next year?

With medical bills, I don't know if I can justify the expensive of a trip to Japan. I'd love to, but it might have to wait.

I like tumbling and stuff with gymnastics, but I liked competition and activity of any sort. I competed in bench press for a while. I set my state record in my weight class at one point. I'm 5'1, weighed 137 lbs. at the time of the competition, and at my best, I could press 215. And I was still training as a runner at the time, so not *just* weight lifting. And no, no steroids. No supplements. All natural. :D

And yes, inflammation. I'm on treatment for it, don't worry. It just takes time. A lot of ibuprofen, some aspirin, but also plaquenil to treat the auto-immune stuff systemically, plus other stuff for the low blood pressure. What's sad is that a year ago, I was perfectly healthy with no problems other than migraines.

We're really turning this into quite the ongoing chat, aren't we? Do you have g-mail, by any chance?

I'm faisons (at) gmail (dot) com, and I chat on there. :D