I am admitted, and sitting in a very stark room in a gown that opens in the back. Yeehaw. The desk lady was mean and scowled at me when I brought in a sandwich I had bought at the comissary, expecting a long wait for admittance. They didn't give it to me in a to-go container as I expected, so I am carrying this little paper tray with a turkey sandwich in it around everywhere and I am not allowed to take a bite. Grrr
Back sucks today, too, so I am glad I am here. I had this concern that, as per usual, I would have some ailment that mysteriously went away when I went to try and see someone about it. I guess I couldn't complain if it REALLY went away, but if I had a "good day" today, decided not to come after all, and then had a "bad day" tomorrow, I would have been at the very least irritated.

I don't like the vibe here at all. Nobody makes eye contact. I had to hike around a bit to find this place, and then nobody smiled or anything when they directed me. It's so...meh here. I no likey.

The nurse was nice. And she carried my laptop bag for me. :) She will be assimilated into the new world order when we take over...

So amuse me. Who knows how long until I see a doctor. *breeze blowing up back of gown* What is everyone else doing today?

BTW, Amy and Jen suggested last night that I have a pity-party this weekend. Since I can't go to TQNW, and am feeling decidedly sorry for myself, they suggested I need to make some fun for myself. They offered mojitos and chocolate cupcakes. Mmmmmm I may just do it.

BTW, I am MissClotho on AIM, if you ever wanna chat.

EDIT: MOTHERFUCKER. I asked for Urgent Care and they apparently sent me to the Emergency Room. Nobody mentions this until they hand me a billing notice that says I will owe $100 copay today for this visit, instead of $50. I explain this to the woman handing me my sheet and she just CHUCKLED AND WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM. I AM PISSED!

So I think I confused some people with my visit tot he hospital today. But it is the source of another frustration, so I can clear it up, AND vent the hell out of my insurance!So right off the bat: NO. my back is not "so bad I had to go to the hospital". So never fear. But the reason I went is here:

So some of you know I have had a bit of a runaround with my insurance, since we changed insurance companies recently, and I can't see my regular doctor any more at the office I loved loved loved. That is, seems no one is taking new patients, and despite being assigned one, and then choosing one from the directory, I was informed they are not taking new patients and to find a different one. The insurance company finally assign me one that will take me...then that office promptly tells me they will not take patients with BACK PAIN ISSUES. I kid you not. Through three doctors (well four, since I tried to go back to one twice), and none will see me to help ease my suffering. So the insurance company tells me my only recourse is to go to Urgent Care. In the meantime, they say, I can self-refer to a chirpractor, which is how I ended up with my chiro. But I wanted a second opinion, and with the recent relapse and inability to get my chiro to call me back in the last 24 hours of pain...

So this morning I went to NW Hospital, which is the Urgent Care facility associated with the doctor-i-have-been-assined-to-yet-never-ever-seen-who-won't-see-me-because-i-have-back-issues. I walk up to the help desk and ask for Urgent Care, and she points me to the office right there--there is no confusion about where she pointed me to. It was within view. Couldn't miss it. But only after I had seen two nurses and handed my insurance info over to some other woman who barely spoke English, did they tell me was actually the Emergency Room, and it was going to cost me $100 copay instead of the $50 copay the Urgent Care clinic would have cost (and when I ask about it, I get the afore-blogged-about chuckle and walk-away). Additionally, I am informed that due to triage policies in effect, my horrible experience of feeling like not ONE person listened to me despite having to tell my symptoms over and over again to three separate people, is entirely typical. They basically know what they are going to tell you to do no matter what you try to tell them, just based on the symptoms, to keep a high turnover. So the doctor did nearly NOTHING, prescribed pain meds and muscle relaxants, and referred me to someone else. Oh and I should mention...he said my chiropractor probably knew how to deal with this better than anyone, if there is no fracture involved (not that anyone confirmed if there was one or not at the emergency room, but anyway...)

BTW, I did get in to see my chiro. He fit me in at the end of his day, and I brought Chris to meet him and see the office I have been going to every week. Dr. John Tong is his name, BTW http://www.wholehealthseattle.com Anyway, I asked him about the meds they gave me, as I feared muscle relaxants would undermine my work with him, which he confirmed was the case. He is confounded as I am as to why my vertebrae pops out so easily. But the good news is it pops right back in again...I guess? :) He gave me some new more intense and frequent exercises, and even more orders to ice ice ice, many times a day. The goal is to keep it in place long enough for the muscles around it to strengthen and heal it into place. He knows I am on a 30-day deadline to my holiday, and we are working with that in mind.

I left feeling still sore and stiff, but better than I was,as always. And a renewed sense that he is still the best course of action for my spinal health right now.

But don't think we didn't fill those prescriptions...*wink*

I DANCED!AND I WALK AND MOVE AND BEND N' SHIT!

I DANCED!

I DANCED!I DANCED!I DANCED!I DANCED!I DANCED!I DANCED!I DANCED!I DANCED!OMFGLOLLERSKATESBBQTEHDANCIN'!

I iced as soon as I got home. And this morning as I lay in bed I just kept wondering how I was going to feel...was I going to be okay. No way to tell until I try to sit up...I roll over and sit up...AND I WAS OKAY! Just that teensy ache, but nothing sharp. I bent over gently, testing...and I could bend over without that sharp smack upside the head-kinda pain.

I FUCKING DANCED!

I was really well behaved and gentle with myself. I could see everyone looking at me sidelong all night to see how I would do. I didn't twist. I made sure anything twisting, Sarah addressed. And DeAnn lead the Aziza drills in Intermediate. I didn't do bicycle shimmies even. I avoided leading as much as possible, and gave more skills and drills for me to walk around and observe. By the time Int rolled around, I was definitely fatigued. I was feeling a little ache in my back and really really wanted to lie down, but thought that would look to funny. So I hung in, and then did a cooldown with splits stretching for all of our benefits (which I got lots of compliments on, so I think they enjoyed it as much as I did).

I DANCED!
idanced
yeefuckinhaw

The weekend went well. Med Fest. Torrential rains. Good friends. Back pain lessening further still.
Saturday morning rain was threatening, but held off while we were setting up, which was great. Renee and I opted to do a big closet cleaning and sell off as much of our old costuming as possible. I was selling pantaloons for $5 apiece and 10-yard skirts for $15. I even sold my brocade Flying skirt for $15. Just let it allllll go. Got rid of all my old VHS videos, and most of the new ones. Sold half my CD collection at $10 a pop. It was liberating.

As a result of the "purging" theme, I was hardly interested in any buying. I bought a few bindis and a top. That's it. Probably the least I have ever spent at any festival. I don't even think I looked in every booth. No urge.

The rains came. Oh boy did they. It was a soggy day. But warm, too. In the low 70's. So the mugginess kept us feeling sticky all day. Fab. It was a brisk sales pace all day, and most everyone we spoke to wasn't planning on returning on Sunday. We wondered if we even should have plans to come back outside of performing...

My students performed at 4pm inside. They are gaining so much confidence and joy in their performance, and it is a pleasure to witness.

Chris spent the rest of the day home trying to clean and prepare for the party. By 6pm we were talking about leaving. The rain was keeping people under shelter or leaving, and Chris needed help at home. So we took off at 7pm, closing up, praying the rain wouldn't get into the tent all night long. The Gypsy Fire girls followed us back, and we all pitched in to set up the deck some more, add some mood lighting, and then tuck into some snacks and drinks. The tarp Chris (with a small help from me--mostly him) set up over the deck worked great. It needed occasional dumping out of accumulated water in one area we just couldn't get a good slope for runoff, but everyone stayed pretty darn dry and happy throughout. The extra 10X10 near the fire on the lawn was much appreciated and warm and cozy. I still was stunned I was wearing a comfy skirt and tee shirt all night long, while it's pouring rain. It was just so nice and warm.

Many convened to the living room for a full concert with Guitar Hero followed by Karaoke Revolution. I got to sing a couple wicked-awesome duets with Amy, and Amy W and Erik sang a lovely duet. I even got to sing and play guitar with Befu and Krystal!

As is the custom these days, we ended up with a "final four", with Krystal and Jen, who left at about 3:30am. We plopped into bed by 4am, ready to get up the next day to hit the festival, wishing we didn't have to.

11am we hit the festival. Mah inFusionista gurlz were going on at noon, sans yours truly for the first time in our history of performing at MF. We were all feeling tired and soggy and uninspired. But the rain wasn't coming today, and it was still warm, so it was kinda nice. And a lot more people than we expected showed up to see the performance! My chicas hit the stage and did AWESOME. I mean...I was feeling pretty fine about not performing with them--we were all so blah that morning, and it was a real "Ah, who cares anyway," approach to the whole thing (which is rare for us!). But when I saw them light up that stage, rock the crowd who had completely stopped in their tracks to watch, and the audience go nuts for them, I was so sad I wasn't there with them! They were so tight! And all these new combos and music we have been playing with, I STILL haven't gotten to play with! WAH! But they were just incredible, and I was beaming with pride.

We cheered on Gyspy Fire, and then began to pack up. It was sooo slow. People just assumed it was going to be a nasty day and didn't plan to come. We had low inventory, and few people coming by, and we just decided to head out. I ran in to the gym to catch most of Urban Berbers, and then finished packing the tents and head home.

Exhausted, we unpacked the car, and started cleaning the house from the party. Bleh. Everything outside was so soggy. The kitchen was a wreck. But we got through most of it before we got food delivered and we settled in to eat and try to relax. We cuddled on the couch (ah what a treat), and then went to be early. I am exhausted still today.

My back was great all weekend. I expected to wake up miserable after the Saturday party, and all the bopping around with the Guitar and mic. But I woke up feeling pretty okay after all. Just a bit achey. Same today. A little more achey today, due to all the hauling from breaking down the tents, party, and goods. But not the debilitating stiffness I was used to. I am hoping I have come over a hump!! I will be back teaching tonight for the first time in almost 6 weeks, with the assistance of my darling Sarah. I look forward to it and am nervous too. I don't know what my limits will be. Keep sending good energy my way!