FGF
Q1 recap edition
Happy FGF all! It’s a great one for me because yesterday I finally got cleared to bend my knee 30 degrees, drive again and got cleared to start physical therapy! HELL YES. April 20th is the next big follow up day where I see if I can get off these damn crutches and brace and dare I say maybe even get in a pool again? (Let’s hope I don’t drown from the inevitable loss of cardio fitness in the meantime but I digress.) Cross your fingers for me.
On to today’s Substack. How we are already at the end of Q1 is beyond me. Why I still use corporate lingo to describe the months of January through March is also beyond me. But I can’t help but reflect on what a weird year this has been. (Real talk though, haven’t they all been in these bat shit crazy 2020s?)
2026 started off with main character energy. I came back from (nearly freezing to death in) Norway, Scotland and (no thanks to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport) a surprise stop in London in January feeling a little more worldly, a little more cultured, and approximately 11% superior to everyone from walking everywhere and drinking wine like it was water. (Jk I hate wine but that sounds like I thing I should’ve done.) I was convinced that maybe with this hot start to the year, 2026 was going to be a year of momentum after a whole lot of shit in 2024 and 2025. I was going to run, work, thrive, (maybe finally move?) and be the kind of person who journals and owns multiple planners for no reason only to immediately abandon both practices by day 9.
Back into life I jumped: wedding coordinating, event work, consulting producing and writing, Strides in Recovery social strategy-ing, running, yoga and pilates-ing, and spoiling Ozzy with daily dog park visits.
And then late January after crashing the Pasadena Half Marathon during and after which I felt pretty great, I got the MRI that changed everything. My orthopedist who previously thought the meniscus surgery wasn’t necessary said the seven words I was afraid of--“Oh yeah. You definitely need the surgery.” Surprise! My meniscus is shredded.
And thus February was when my knee confirmed the above and started acting a damn fool. Aches. Pains. Twinges. The orthopedic version of foreshadowing in a horror movie.
As I’ve mentioned 75 times in two weeks, nothing prepares you for the humbling experience of going from European traveler and busy event human to someone who has to plan how to carry water across a room. Suddenly, every task became a full production. Crutches became my personality. Tylenol extra strength capsules became my closest confidants.
Ozzy sort of adjusted quickly to this new lifestyle, mostly by assuming my immobility meant unlimited cuddle access and staring at me like, “Wow, you’re home all day now? Love this for me.”
And as you’ve read over the past two Substacks, recovery = medically sanctioned bedrotting. Watching too much TV, celebrating tiny victories like bending my knee now no more than thirty degrees, and realizing that independence is a luxury item.
But Q1 wasn’t like a total disaster.
I explored more of Europe. I helped pull off some sick weddings and events. I showed up for Strides in Recovery and Lacinephile Run Club. I learned patience (very unwillingly). I discovered that progress sometimes looks like swelling going down and your dog refusing to leave your side. I saw whatever the f*k this was out in the wild and nearly lost my god damn mind. (Her name is Grace. She is his “companion.”)
And so here we are. Three months down. A little over two weeks in to recovery. One month until the Big Appointment day and one (almost adult!) puppy who thinks this is the best thing that’s ever happened to him. (I mean...sort of. No more daily dog park visits. Probs for the best.)
My Q2 goals? Walk like a normal person. Get off these horrendous crutches. Build muscle mass. Return to my life and hobbies outside of running like karaoke league, yoga / pilates, and don’t forget my DnD campaign that I-suck-at-but- have-fun-wrecking-havoc-in. Convince Ozzy that I will not, in fact, be home all day forever. Go on A SHIT TON of trips. (Invite me everywhere and anywhere.)Get in a hot tub, a pool, on a bike, and maybe, just maybe walk or jog a 5k. IRONMAN 2027 HERE WE COME. (Jk…)
So yeah, respectfully, Q2, for the love of all things mobile knees, BEHAVE.
Have a great weekend all. (P.S - The links below are being weird again but if you click you’ll get there. Maybe it’s more fun that way?)
THE SHALLOW STUFF
Ready to laugh?
Ready to smile?
Ready for your pump up song of the week?
Made by Sean Johnson!
Also, check out this awesome article Sean Johnson wrote about active listening. Hopefully you do that for the above and below because their album is officially live here!
THE DEEP STUFF
Ready to cry?
Ready to be inspired?
Ready for your good deed of the week?
Come out and support indie music! The Pretty Flowers record release show is coming up TONIGHT, March 27th in Pasadena at 8pm and you should get your tickets now. Even if you’re not local, consider buying a copy from afar or streaming it here! I can attest that this record truly kicks ass.
THREE THINGS I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
BOOK: The Book of Luke: A Novel by Lovell Holder
Logline: A debut novel about a gay man, Luke Griffin, who returns to the reality TV competition show Endeavor that made him famous, years after his life unravels following his husband's political scandal
SHOW: Jury Duty S2 on Amazon
MOVIE: Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie
Logline: Matt and Jay's plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, resulting in them accidentally travelling back to the year 2008.
