Hurting and Blogging
Jul. 14th, 2009 05:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bethlakshmiOK, so if you haven't read new_man or mermaidlady -- I sprained my ankle last night.
In dress rehearsal for Wrathskellar.
No, this didn't have anything to do with the knees and making myself into a curry-smelling version of Big Bird. The knees were much better - they are a typical grumpy-making thing, and I've learned to work through them over the years.
So.. yeah, I sprained my ankle. First time I've ever sprained anything. For an amazingly clumsy person with a notable short coming in the common sense department, I've been able to avoid most major injuries. I've twisted ankles and knees, and bruised, burned and slashed myself a fair number of times. But I managed until now to stay away from breaks, sprains and dislocations.
I'm pretty bummed. I'm not sure "bummed" really covers it, but I don't want to go into self-pitying detail.
I won't be in the Wrathskellar this week - I will be resting my big swollen ankle.
And I'm not sure I'll be going to Pennsic. I realize that plenty of energetic people have managed Pennsic on crutches, in wheelchairs and a variety of other painful conditions. But I'm not sure I'm ready to take precious vacation time, drive many hours, set up camp, and then not dance, teach dance or learn dance. And that is quite likely what Pennsic will be for me.
I haven't said "absolutely not", but I need to see where I am in a week before I make a final decision.
I'm trying to find things to be thankful for - everyone around me has been overwhelmingly wonderful. Dominique and Joshua skipped the show and took me to the ER, where they patiently tended me and my periodic outbursts in tears. Aparna and Anil bullied their way backstage (they came to see the show) and Anil took a look and said "go to hospital". I had to admire their ability to appear like the fantastic and mysterious Indian gurus and then disappear again with hugs and support.
Scratch, Mina, Honey and Amber came by after and overwhelmed the revolving hospital crew. Scratch and Mina got both me and my car home. And Scratch was willing to shlep me by Barry Meklir's house to get some ad hoc body mechanic holistic help. You have to love your body worker when he comes running down stairs at midnight with a collection of enzymes and pain remedys and says "don't worry about it, call me tomorrow". Then Scratch and Mina got me tucked in, while managing to endure intermittent attacks of tears.
Today at work, none of my management would let me do anything. People carried my backpack around and got me stuff for the 1/2 day I worked (big corporate demo tomorrow). And, for a bunch of geeks, many of them were quite understanding about how awful it is to miss the show you've worked for for a long time.
Since I've been home, I've gotten a wonderful set of support emails and LJ messages from those who also read new_man or mermaidlady.
Barry and Anil have now cooked up some blend of kiri (the medicinal pouch therapy) and lasers. You got to love it when the two body workers (one Ayurvedic and one ...umm... whatever Barry is...) get together and develop your treatment plan without you. And Aparna and I will start music lessons again tomorrow along with work on the Ashtapadi. Aparna and I both agreed that if Aparna's teacher (Venkatalakshamma) could teach and perform sitting down -- then I could certainly do OK learning for a month sitting down. Particularly with an Ashtapadi, which is 95% kick ass abhinaya, and only 5% being able to move. This is a hallmark of Aparna's style, and I was halfway through and I'm really eager to learn the rest.
(If I'm still ankle-hurt, I plan to trade ruthlessly on teacher goodwill and see if I can convince her to teach the Rated X Ashtapadi... tell me that doesn't sound exciting)
She's also letting me read her dissertation, which she doesn't think of as exciting, but I do!
I'm working on concocting other fun, sitting down, things to do that don't depress me. Things I often don't have enough time for with endless rounds of dance. Painting my stair rail... organizing my fiddly little sewing things. The thing that is most out is Lakshmi Clothes, or dance costumes... too upsetting.
I'm also trying to think of "instead of" options for Pennsic. I don't have limitless resources, but I do have enough around to have a fun time-- later in the year, when I can walk and dance with less limitations. And I'm not above maximizing on the fact that I don't have kids and therefore am not constrained to having a vacation in August. I don't want to blow the bank.... I plan to go to India next year. But I'm up for moderately fun ideas that aren't in the Boston area...
In dress rehearsal for Wrathskellar.
No, this didn't have anything to do with the knees and making myself into a curry-smelling version of Big Bird. The knees were much better - they are a typical grumpy-making thing, and I've learned to work through them over the years.
So.. yeah, I sprained my ankle. First time I've ever sprained anything. For an amazingly clumsy person with a notable short coming in the common sense department, I've been able to avoid most major injuries. I've twisted ankles and knees, and bruised, burned and slashed myself a fair number of times. But I managed until now to stay away from breaks, sprains and dislocations.
I'm pretty bummed. I'm not sure "bummed" really covers it, but I don't want to go into self-pitying detail.
I won't be in the Wrathskellar this week - I will be resting my big swollen ankle.
And I'm not sure I'll be going to Pennsic. I realize that plenty of energetic people have managed Pennsic on crutches, in wheelchairs and a variety of other painful conditions. But I'm not sure I'm ready to take precious vacation time, drive many hours, set up camp, and then not dance, teach dance or learn dance. And that is quite likely what Pennsic will be for me.
I haven't said "absolutely not", but I need to see where I am in a week before I make a final decision.
I'm trying to find things to be thankful for - everyone around me has been overwhelmingly wonderful. Dominique and Joshua skipped the show and took me to the ER, where they patiently tended me and my periodic outbursts in tears. Aparna and Anil bullied their way backstage (they came to see the show) and Anil took a look and said "go to hospital". I had to admire their ability to appear like the fantastic and mysterious Indian gurus and then disappear again with hugs and support.
Scratch, Mina, Honey and Amber came by after and overwhelmed the revolving hospital crew. Scratch and Mina got both me and my car home. And Scratch was willing to shlep me by Barry Meklir's house to get some ad hoc body mechanic holistic help. You have to love your body worker when he comes running down stairs at midnight with a collection of enzymes and pain remedys and says "don't worry about it, call me tomorrow". Then Scratch and Mina got me tucked in, while managing to endure intermittent attacks of tears.
Today at work, none of my management would let me do anything. People carried my backpack around and got me stuff for the 1/2 day I worked (big corporate demo tomorrow). And, for a bunch of geeks, many of them were quite understanding about how awful it is to miss the show you've worked for for a long time.
Since I've been home, I've gotten a wonderful set of support emails and LJ messages from those who also read new_man or mermaidlady.
Barry and Anil have now cooked up some blend of kiri (the medicinal pouch therapy) and lasers. You got to love it when the two body workers (one Ayurvedic and one ...umm... whatever Barry is...) get together and develop your treatment plan without you. And Aparna and I will start music lessons again tomorrow along with work on the Ashtapadi. Aparna and I both agreed that if Aparna's teacher (Venkatalakshamma) could teach and perform sitting down -- then I could certainly do OK learning for a month sitting down. Particularly with an Ashtapadi, which is 95% kick ass abhinaya, and only 5% being able to move. This is a hallmark of Aparna's style, and I was halfway through and I'm really eager to learn the rest.
(If I'm still ankle-hurt, I plan to trade ruthlessly on teacher goodwill and see if I can convince her to teach the Rated X Ashtapadi... tell me that doesn't sound exciting)
She's also letting me read her dissertation, which she doesn't think of as exciting, but I do!
I'm working on concocting other fun, sitting down, things to do that don't depress me. Things I often don't have enough time for with endless rounds of dance. Painting my stair rail... organizing my fiddly little sewing things. The thing that is most out is Lakshmi Clothes, or dance costumes... too upsetting.
I'm also trying to think of "instead of" options for Pennsic. I don't have limitless resources, but I do have enough around to have a fun time-- later in the year, when I can walk and dance with less limitations. And I'm not above maximizing on the fact that I don't have kids and therefore am not constrained to having a vacation in August. I don't want to blow the bank.... I plan to go to India next year. But I'm up for moderately fun ideas that aren't in the Boston area...