if you want stress, buy a damn coloring book...

i was in barnes & nobles this weekend and saw the coloring book section (for adults).  i remember reading in a news article about the effect of this new hobby.  if my memory serves me well, it says that it makes you relax and a great way to de-stress.

**nice inviting cover right??

i purchase three books - one for me and two for my nieces (they are a big fan of coloring books - for adults).  anyway, i selected a random picture and within minutes of coloring, my stress level just went up.  i realized that this takes a lot of time.  

**let the suffering begin...

i looked at one particular section and i just lost it.  this thing will give me a headache.  who the #### can color this thing???  this is not fun.  this is punishment.  what was i thinking??? 

**thinking of happy thoughts..........who are we kidding, this is just CRAZY!!!!

back to the sideline...for now.

i woke up earlier today with a sharp pain on the outer side of my knee.  i actually had the pain for a week now but this morning was just on another level.  i know it's related to my running but being the stubborn person that i am, i refuse to believe it.  i can barely stretch my leg or even stand without holding on a desk or something just to get my balance.  walking from my room to the bathroom, i was like a really old man who glides rather than lifting my feet to walk.

**admitted then released....

i was glad enough to work near a hospital where i can have a check-up during my lunch break.  i told the Dr my story (i.e. being a runner), he did some little leg movement and advised me that i have an iliotibial band syndrome or ITBS for short or IT band pain.  he said that this is a very common injury for most runners.  he requested an x-ray just to make sure that there were no bone fracture.

i am glad that it's nothing serious but i'm just a bit bummed out the fact that i am sidelined - no running - for about a week.  currently i am in training mode and this is not helping me at all.

oh well, i guess i just have to relax for now.....as the DR prescribe.

postcard sunday...

**note:  click the link on each postcard for details.  this is the best part of doing this type of hobby....learn new things such as places, artworks, etc.

**from Magdeburg, Germany...

**artwork by auguste renoir; from the Netherlands...

**the visitation by jacopo pontormo; from London, England...

**hanuman langur monkeys; from Dharwad City, India...

**american museum of science and energy; from Oak Ridge, Tennessee..

**may the force be with you; from Michigan...

**my favorite postcard due to the hologram of the faces; faces of budapest; from Budapest...

**from Moscow, Russia...

**the pilot by daria danilova; from Russia...

**rwth aachen university; from Germany...

**from Germany...

**from Finland...

**love this stamp!!!

**hot summer cold nights by eugene frost; from Russia...

**from Suzhou, China...