Detecting a Pattern

So, I am not back at work yet.  I misunderstood what my doctor said and thought I was released for part time so that's what I told my boss, my boss's boss, and of course that was relayed to the AVP and VP.  Because if you're going to give wrong information you want it to go straight to the top!  Anyway, I go back to the Neurosurgeon tomorrow and we'll see where we're at.  Maybe I'll make it back before years end.  What is awesome is I have 3 weeks of vacation still. By awesome I mean the opposite of awesome.  I can hardly say "hey, I'm back!  Going on vaykay, see ya next year!". I can carry one week over but we have a use it or lose it vacation policy.  Ah well, I guess this time off has been like a vacation....in hell.  And here's a lovely photo by the lake of fire...

I'm going to physical therapy twice a week now.  My back feels fine, I mean like almost normal fine but the nerve damage has caused some issues!  I drove a clutch today, I managed to not strip the transmission but it was hard to push the clutch in with my bummer leg.  That's what I'm just going to call it.  Hi, I'd like you to meet Bummer Leg, it's not useless it just acts like everyday is Monday morning.  It works but only gives 20%.  Anyway, I did left leg presses at PT and when I went to stand up my leg just collapsed.  No pain, just total muscle failure. I didn't fall, thankfully saved by hubby! Hmmm, still so weak.  And stiff still.  I'm doing a ton of at home exercises and yesterday walked a full hour at once in the treadmill, first time!  So I'm thinking I'm super fit!  Yet again, I'm wrong!  I'm detecting a pattern here.  

OK, now it's fascinating trivia time.  Horses can develop a pattern on their coats, a dappling of light and dark called, ironically enough, dappling.  They aren't completely sure what causes it but blood flow has been identified as a contributing factor.  It's lovely! I have a dapple grey and the less romantically named flea bitten grey who was dappled in his horsey youth.  "What?  Why?  I don't understand the point of this educational piece of equine information." you might be saying.  Your confusion isn't misplaced, but this story does circle back to me.   I have spent a lot of time with a heating pad on my back.  It's nice and warm, it's winter and I feel like it keeps my back muscles more relaxed.  I have developed dapples on my back where I put the heating pad.  They are there all the time now.  Like horsie dapples, I have no doubt they'll fade with time.  My dear hubby did not seem impressed when I yelled "look at me!  I'm a pretty pony!  Pretty! Pretty!".  He seemed a bit, umm let's go with the word cautious with his enthusiasm.  Not every man has a lovely dappled wife, so I don't know what the problem is.  Maybe I should quit whinnying.  

My dapple grey, Rome for reference.  He's chasing a bird.