I decided a while ago not to do NaNoWriMo this year, until last night when I started dreaming up characters and a story. As I fell asleep, I thought to myself, "I can definitely do this!"
When I woke up, I realized I am a bit crazy.
My earlier decision to abstain from this year's NaNo will remain in effect. Why? Mostly due to the fact that I get the opportunity to play the principal clarinet part in The Nutcracker this year, something that I have always wanted to do. And, since I do not want to be one of those people who show up unprepared (it baffles me how even after 20+ years of playing the exact same thing people are unprepared...it's called P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E, people!), I intend to spend all the time I would be writing, practicing.
This was a hard decision as the writer in me is throwing an outright temper tantrum, which, to be fair, is fair. I keep putting my writing aside in order to pursue these musical avenues, but sometimes decisions need to be made. If I find myself with extra time this November, I will certainly try to write down the story about the characters that made an appearance last night (and whom I am sure will start pestering me incessantly). But this November is dedicated to practicing both for The Nutcracker as well as the Winds of the Sound quintet recital (which you should all come to on November 23rd; it'll be great music!)
Meanwhile, to all those NaNoers out there: Best of luck to you all!
P.S. And, if I wasn't already convinced that I need to expend my energy into practicing this November, I got a sign this morning as well: Northwestern University has released archived audios of Robert Marcellus masterclasses! *Nerd Alert* Robert Marcellus is a big name in the clarinetting world of yore (and continues to influence the clarinet world, though he passed away in 1996). A fantastic player, he also taught brilliantly and intellectually to both students and fellow clarinet teachers. There's rumored to be 175 hours of pure listening pleasure in these audio files as he talks about technique and repertoire, critiques pieces and he provides constructive criticism to those performing the pieces in his masterclasses. I've already gleaned pearls of wisdom from the bits and snatches I aurally flipped through today. Suh-weet!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
A Week in Review: A blow to the knees
I feel like I am 80 years old. I cringe thinking about getting up in the morning because my knees are so stiff and painful. The thought of going downstairs makes me want to crawl back in bed. Each morning I think I'll feel better, and each morning it still hurts. A lot. It's been a month and a half now.
It happened after we went backpacking, but I can't figure out how to fix myself because I'm not altogether sure what's going on. It's not like we hadn't gone backpacking before. I did have new hiking boots, but it wasn't my first time using them. My only thought is this:
I had been wearing my Keens and my super comfortable yoga-mat flip flops almost nonstop this entire summer. Then, when I went backpacking, I actually wore my orthotics (*pats self on back*) and when we hiked down, I also put my knee brace on (*another pat on the back*). I thought I was doing the right thing: good posture and good support. But here's what I actually think happened: My feet/knees/hips rebelled because they were over-corrected after an entire summer of being lazy. (That and my orthotics are about a thousand years old, a.k.a. I got them in high school...and as much as I hate to admit it, probably are doing me more harm than good.)
Ever since that hike down, I haven't been able to bend my knees. I can't kneel. It takes me a long time to just get up and walk to the bathroom or the kitchen.
I used to be able to do this:
Now it hurts to put on socks.
Why, you may ask, did I not go to a doctor a month ago? Well, I don't believe in doctors much. Or, perhaps I should say I've just been extremely disappointed in them. When I sprained my ankle a few years ago, I put off going in...knowing that they'd just tell me that I needed to rest it and take drugs, etc. It finally got so bad that I went to the urgent care (bad idea). They told me to rest it and take ibuprofen. (Shocker...) That bill ended up being $1000 (the doctor wasn't authorized to read the x-rays so they had to call in a radiologist that I had to pay, the crutches and ankle brace went through different companies which each billed us separately, so on and so forth. Good thing the husband sorted most of that out.) Speaking of him, let's talk about the time he went into physical therapy for two months for an IT band issue...which the physical therapists actually made worse. And yet we still had to pay a copay twice a week for two months. Or how about the time I tweaked my wrist and it hurt every time I played my instrument? Yep, you guessed it. Multiple doctors appointments, MRIs, x-rays, poking, prodding, and copays, just to be told they "weren't really sure..." which resulted in the option of steroid shots or nothing. I took nothing. What a colossal waste of time, energy, and money.
Now, this isn't a knock against doctors. They definitely have merit and worth in society. Nor is it a tirade against insurance.
But how do you decide when to go into a doctor and why? I feel like if you can rest and recuperate without going into a doctor, then do it. You'll save yourself time and money, and you'll save others time and money.
So what about prolonged injuries like what I now am battling? How do you decide when and where and who to see? Do you go see the doctors just to play a guessing game and be prescribed drugs that you aren't willing to take? Do you try to exercise it out? (Movement, in this case, does seem to be the only thing that sort of helps alleviate pain.) I have rested, iced, heated, compressed, and elevated. And yet nothing. I suppose each day is mildly better, but the slope of improvement is so gradual that I am worried that nothing has changed.
I don't want to go to the doctor just to have them tell me I need to RICE some more. Nor do I want to go and be put through a battery of tests that end up being inconclusive. I would consider physical therapy, but ever since my husband's experience, I am afraid that it'll just be a waste of money AND make me worse.
I guess it's time to go back to RICE and start strength-exercising the muscles in the lower half of my body.
Meanwhile, I have made an appointment with a podiatrist to get new orthotics.
It happened after we went backpacking, but I can't figure out how to fix myself because I'm not altogether sure what's going on. It's not like we hadn't gone backpacking before. I did have new hiking boots, but it wasn't my first time using them. My only thought is this:
I had been wearing my Keens and my super comfortable yoga-mat flip flops almost nonstop this entire summer. Then, when I went backpacking, I actually wore my orthotics (*pats self on back*) and when we hiked down, I also put my knee brace on (*another pat on the back*). I thought I was doing the right thing: good posture and good support. But here's what I actually think happened: My feet/knees/hips rebelled because they were over-corrected after an entire summer of being lazy. (That and my orthotics are about a thousand years old, a.k.a. I got them in high school...and as much as I hate to admit it, probably are doing me more harm than good.)
Ever since that hike down, I haven't been able to bend my knees. I can't kneel. It takes me a long time to just get up and walk to the bathroom or the kitchen.
I used to be able to do this:
Why, you may ask, did I not go to a doctor a month ago? Well, I don't believe in doctors much. Or, perhaps I should say I've just been extremely disappointed in them. When I sprained my ankle a few years ago, I put off going in...knowing that they'd just tell me that I needed to rest it and take drugs, etc. It finally got so bad that I went to the urgent care (bad idea). They told me to rest it and take ibuprofen. (Shocker...) That bill ended up being $1000 (the doctor wasn't authorized to read the x-rays so they had to call in a radiologist that I had to pay, the crutches and ankle brace went through different companies which each billed us separately, so on and so forth. Good thing the husband sorted most of that out.) Speaking of him, let's talk about the time he went into physical therapy for two months for an IT band issue...which the physical therapists actually made worse. And yet we still had to pay a copay twice a week for two months. Or how about the time I tweaked my wrist and it hurt every time I played my instrument? Yep, you guessed it. Multiple doctors appointments, MRIs, x-rays, poking, prodding, and copays, just to be told they "weren't really sure..." which resulted in the option of steroid shots or nothing. I took nothing. What a colossal waste of time, energy, and money.
Now, this isn't a knock against doctors. They definitely have merit and worth in society. Nor is it a tirade against insurance.
But how do you decide when to go into a doctor and why? I feel like if you can rest and recuperate without going into a doctor, then do it. You'll save yourself time and money, and you'll save others time and money.
So what about prolonged injuries like what I now am battling? How do you decide when and where and who to see? Do you go see the doctors just to play a guessing game and be prescribed drugs that you aren't willing to take? Do you try to exercise it out? (Movement, in this case, does seem to be the only thing that sort of helps alleviate pain.) I have rested, iced, heated, compressed, and elevated. And yet nothing. I suppose each day is mildly better, but the slope of improvement is so gradual that I am worried that nothing has changed.
I don't want to go to the doctor just to have them tell me I need to RICE some more. Nor do I want to go and be put through a battery of tests that end up being inconclusive. I would consider physical therapy, but ever since my husband's experience, I am afraid that it'll just be a waste of money AND make me worse.
I guess it's time to go back to RICE and start strength-exercising the muscles in the lower half of my body.
Meanwhile, I have made an appointment with a podiatrist to get new orthotics.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
A Week in Review: The long and the short of it (tee hee)
I am not intentionally pushing the posting dates back each week; somehow life just gets busy.
I almost didn't post this week; first because I forgot on Sunday (big day with quintet rehearsal and lessons and youth symphony and lessons and finally getting home to eat dinner). Then, as Monday slipped by, I thought, "Should I bother this week? It's already Tuesday..."
But NO! I said I would do this, so barring any actual forgettage (English major is allowed to make up words), I will persevere.
A short snippet for the week (pun intended):
My hair cut rocks. (Pun intended again.)
The bass players in the symphony in which I play are located across the entire room from me, stage left. Due to this location, rarely, if ever, do we interact. A new bass player joined us last season, an older, slender black man from Chicago, who wears a newsboy cap with some grays underneath. I don't believe we've even nodded a "Hello" to each other (due, again, merely to location).
The first rehearsal after my hair cut, I walked into rehearsal and sat down. Incredibly early, I was one of only a few people in the room. The bass player walked in and as he was about to put bow to strings, said (from across the room), "You got your hair cut!"
Catching me completely off guard, I at least responded with a, "Yes, I did!"
He made my day. The only other person in my section doesn't notice I chopped off multiple inches of hair, but a pleasant gentleman from across the room does—and comments on it! :)
Just goes to show you that you never know who's watching. And not in the creepy, stalker way, but in the "being aware of your surroundings" kind of way.
Remember, people like to be noticed and acknowledged. Even something that may seem trivial to you could make a difference in somebody's day.
I almost didn't post this week; first because I forgot on Sunday (big day with quintet rehearsal and lessons and youth symphony and lessons and finally getting home to eat dinner). Then, as Monday slipped by, I thought, "Should I bother this week? It's already Tuesday..."
But NO! I said I would do this, so barring any actual forgettage (English major is allowed to make up words), I will persevere.
A short snippet for the week (pun intended):
My hair cut rocks. (Pun intended again.)
The bass players in the symphony in which I play are located across the entire room from me, stage left. Due to this location, rarely, if ever, do we interact. A new bass player joined us last season, an older, slender black man from Chicago, who wears a newsboy cap with some grays underneath. I don't believe we've even nodded a "Hello" to each other (due, again, merely to location).
The first rehearsal after my hair cut, I walked into rehearsal and sat down. Incredibly early, I was one of only a few people in the room. The bass player walked in and as he was about to put bow to strings, said (from across the room), "You got your hair cut!"
Catching me completely off guard, I at least responded with a, "Yes, I did!"
He made my day. The only other person in my section doesn't notice I chopped off multiple inches of hair, but a pleasant gentleman from across the room does—and comments on it! :)
Just goes to show you that you never know who's watching. And not in the creepy, stalker way, but in the "being aware of your surroundings" kind of way.
Remember, people like to be noticed and acknowledged. Even something that may seem trivial to you could make a difference in somebody's day.
Monday, October 7, 2013
A Week in Review: Gov. shutdowns, puppy-dog tooth extractions, eBay, and hair cuts
When people ask me, "How was your week? What did you do?" I generally stare at them for a moment, trying to remember what I actually did in the past week. If somebody asks me this week, I'll ask them to pull up a chair because it was a doozy of week!
* * *
Earlier in the week, the government shut down. For some, this just comes as a minor inconvenience; others don't even give it more than a passing, "That's unfortunate" or "No surprise" thought. But for many, especially in the area where we reside, it's a huge deal. Many people have been furloughed (no work, no pay). My husband gets to still go to work, but he doesn't get paid (until everything gets settled...and then theoretically we will be paid retroactively). That was how this entire week started for us. I count us one of the lucky ones, at the moment, as we still have a job (sort of) and we will get paid (eventually...we hope). But for all those who live pay-check to pay-check, my heart goes out to them.
My husband said that the day notices went out, he saw a man walking down the stairs, crumpling up a piece of paper with a look on his face that said it all: "How am I going to afford to live?"
The feeling is terrible. For those of you who have steady, paying jobs right now. Count your blessings and don't belly-ache about stupid things. Have some consideration for those millions affected who suddenly went from stability to uncertainty in a matter of hours. Cross your fingers that our government can put aside their petty differences and start working together.
I won't say anymore on the matter as it's something that is largely debated and could end up being an entire novel. Suffice it to say: I'm grateful that we have savings, that I work (even though I only pull in enough to pay half a mortgage), and am equally glad that we have great family and friends if we end up needing help.
* * *
As the week progressed, we found out that our puppy-dog had a cracked molar. :(
Good thing my husband has been good about brushing her teeth, as he noticed it. She went in for a vet appointment on Friday which confirmed the situation. The vet gave us two options: root canal (no bueno) or tooth extraction. On Saturday morning, my husband took her into the vet again for a tooth extraction surgery. Later that day, she came back to us, sounding like a tea kettle and completely out of it. Poor puppy :( Already in her life she's had two knee surgeries, so we have gone through much more major "after anesthesia" deals, but it still doesn't get any easier.
Ellie is no longer allowed to have any nylabones (sad day), but on the plus side she gets a steady diet of chicken and rice all week (soft food)! Lucky doggy! She is already sounding and looking a lot better. Though drooling a lot...hopefully that'll stop sooner rather than later ;)
Now of course Murphy's Law says that this'll happen as soon as the Gov. shutdown happens and we aren't getting paid, but that's why we have pet insurance (GET IT!!) and hopefully this will be covered! (Ironically, we also had to buy new tires for my car the day after the Gov. shutdown, but again, sometimes you just have to roll with the punches...and now all those who ride in my car are much safer!).
* * *
This is just touching the surface of the many strange and unusual things that occurred this week. There were a lot more frustrating moments, some learning moments, some very exciting moments, and a lot of good that really did happen this week along with the unfortunate circumstances.
Like, for instance: my first eBay experience!
Now and then I poke around eBay, usually hunting for nerdy clarinet paraphernalia. (There was that one time I bid on a clarinet using my husband's account.) But I never actually buy anything, in fact I didn't (up until this week) have an account at all.
This week, my life changed. I—became an eBayer.
What, you may ask, compelled me to actually make an account when not even a prior clarinet bidding convinced me to get my own?
Two words (try not to laugh): Polly Pocket.
Yes, that is right my friends, if you didn't think I was a nerd before, now you really know I am one!
Back story:
I used to play with Polly Pockets as a young child. Not the ones you see nowadays, but the legit inch-high dolls that came in the little shells. They were awesome. You could take them with you and entertain yourself for hours.
As I grew up, my two precious Polly Pocket sets were packed away along with my other dolls, stuffed animals, Beanie Babies, and all the other countless toys. In the attic they sat, for years. Then I moved into my own house and found myself poking through all my boxes as I moved all my stuff out of my parents' house. Strangely, my Polly Pockets were no where to be found! How could this be?!
I brushed it off for a for more years, mentioning it to my mom who also found it strange. For some reason, just this past week, I finally decided I'd had enough. It was time to accept that for some reason, two of my favorite toys were officially AWOL.
I began an intense online hunt, finding out more than I ever thought I'd know about the Polly Pocket world (and that there are some crazy enthusiasts out there). But, given the power of the internet, I found my two sets floating around on eBay.
Naturally, I stalked every option and finally went in for the kill. Never having actually eBayed on my own (I'm making up all sorts of words in this blog today), I watched the countdown eagerly for the first set, face plastered to the screen as the one hour mark turned into minutes...45 min...30...15...10...I am still the highest bidder!...8...5...3...30 secs and I WIN!!! Yes, I did a happy dance. I love winning. (Who doesn't?)
Thrilled with my first awesome encounter, I eagerly pushed forward into my next bid for my other set, this time being even more daring and finding not just the one original that I was missing...but the entire set! WOWSERS!
This one I couldn't watch actively, so I just had to cross my fingers that nobody outbid me. And nobody did. Because nobody messes with me and my Polly Pockets. WINNER AGAIN! Even more exciting though because I get not one, but FOUR! (They should arrive in the mail today or tomorrow.)
Perhaps one day my two sets will show up, but if they don't, now I have them again. I feel pretty darn good about my eBay experience! (Also, I think I may have lost the boy polly from the beach set in our family Oldsmobile when I was playing with them in the car...pretty sure he slipped down where the seatbelt comes out...so now if I do find them, I'll have all the pieces again!)
Laugh all you will, but everyone has something that they would love to see again. In fact, I told my in-laws we should have a vintage toy Christmas this year. :) Wouldn't you love to open just one gift and have it be something special from your past? I think it'd be pretty neat.
* * *
Meanwhile, the most exciting thing that was supposed to happen last week was getting my hair cut:
Neither are great pictures, but you get the point. I love my new hair cut. It's a bit more "Short 'n' Sassy" ;)
* * *
As I said, this only barely scratches what happened this week. I didn't even go into the Tea Festival, staking out the grand opening of REI in our area for free water bottles and gifts cards, my sister adopting her first cat, one of my best friends adopting her first dog, teaching a lesson that tested my patience (I wanted to pull my hair out by the end), or really any of the other myriad of subjects I could talk about.
But at least this time, when somebody asks me how my week went, I'll have something to say!
* * *
Earlier in the week, the government shut down. For some, this just comes as a minor inconvenience; others don't even give it more than a passing, "That's unfortunate" or "No surprise" thought. But for many, especially in the area where we reside, it's a huge deal. Many people have been furloughed (no work, no pay). My husband gets to still go to work, but he doesn't get paid (until everything gets settled...and then theoretically we will be paid retroactively). That was how this entire week started for us. I count us one of the lucky ones, at the moment, as we still have a job (sort of) and we will get paid (eventually...we hope). But for all those who live pay-check to pay-check, my heart goes out to them.
My husband said that the day notices went out, he saw a man walking down the stairs, crumpling up a piece of paper with a look on his face that said it all: "How am I going to afford to live?"
The feeling is terrible. For those of you who have steady, paying jobs right now. Count your blessings and don't belly-ache about stupid things. Have some consideration for those millions affected who suddenly went from stability to uncertainty in a matter of hours. Cross your fingers that our government can put aside their petty differences and start working together.
I won't say anymore on the matter as it's something that is largely debated and could end up being an entire novel. Suffice it to say: I'm grateful that we have savings, that I work (even though I only pull in enough to pay half a mortgage), and am equally glad that we have great family and friends if we end up needing help.
* * *
As the week progressed, we found out that our puppy-dog had a cracked molar. :(
Good thing my husband has been good about brushing her teeth, as he noticed it. She went in for a vet appointment on Friday which confirmed the situation. The vet gave us two options: root canal (no bueno) or tooth extraction. On Saturday morning, my husband took her into the vet again for a tooth extraction surgery. Later that day, she came back to us, sounding like a tea kettle and completely out of it. Poor puppy :( Already in her life she's had two knee surgeries, so we have gone through much more major "after anesthesia" deals, but it still doesn't get any easier.
Ellie is no longer allowed to have any nylabones (sad day), but on the plus side she gets a steady diet of chicken and rice all week (soft food)! Lucky doggy! She is already sounding and looking a lot better. Though drooling a lot...hopefully that'll stop sooner rather than later ;)
Now of course Murphy's Law says that this'll happen as soon as the Gov. shutdown happens and we aren't getting paid, but that's why we have pet insurance (GET IT!!) and hopefully this will be covered! (Ironically, we also had to buy new tires for my car the day after the Gov. shutdown, but again, sometimes you just have to roll with the punches...and now all those who ride in my car are much safer!).
* * *
This is just touching the surface of the many strange and unusual things that occurred this week. There were a lot more frustrating moments, some learning moments, some very exciting moments, and a lot of good that really did happen this week along with the unfortunate circumstances.
Like, for instance: my first eBay experience!
Now and then I poke around eBay, usually hunting for nerdy clarinet paraphernalia. (There was that one time I bid on a clarinet using my husband's account.) But I never actually buy anything, in fact I didn't (up until this week) have an account at all.
This week, my life changed. I—became an eBayer.
What, you may ask, compelled me to actually make an account when not even a prior clarinet bidding convinced me to get my own?
Two words (try not to laugh): Polly Pocket.
Yes, that is right my friends, if you didn't think I was a nerd before, now you really know I am one!
Back story:
I used to play with Polly Pockets as a young child. Not the ones you see nowadays, but the legit inch-high dolls that came in the little shells. They were awesome. You could take them with you and entertain yourself for hours.
As I grew up, my two precious Polly Pocket sets were packed away along with my other dolls, stuffed animals, Beanie Babies, and all the other countless toys. In the attic they sat, for years. Then I moved into my own house and found myself poking through all my boxes as I moved all my stuff out of my parents' house. Strangely, my Polly Pockets were no where to be found! How could this be?!
I brushed it off for a for more years, mentioning it to my mom who also found it strange. For some reason, just this past week, I finally decided I'd had enough. It was time to accept that for some reason, two of my favorite toys were officially AWOL.
I began an intense online hunt, finding out more than I ever thought I'd know about the Polly Pocket world (and that there are some crazy enthusiasts out there). But, given the power of the internet, I found my two sets floating around on eBay.
Naturally, I stalked every option and finally went in for the kill. Never having actually eBayed on my own (I'm making up all sorts of words in this blog today), I watched the countdown eagerly for the first set, face plastered to the screen as the one hour mark turned into minutes...45 min...30...15...10...I am still the highest bidder!...8...5...3...30 secs and I WIN!!! Yes, I did a happy dance. I love winning. (Who doesn't?)
 |
| Polly Pocket Beach House with two original dolls AND a bonus doll. Also in the original color that I had (other ones have dark purple scheme in the seating and beds, but this lighter color is the one I originally owned). |
 |
| Original Polly Pocket Jeweled Sea that I used to own. Comes with a little otter as well as the mermaid doll! |
 |
| The entire jewel Polly Pocket set! Wahoo! |
Perhaps one day my two sets will show up, but if they don't, now I have them again. I feel pretty darn good about my eBay experience! (Also, I think I may have lost the boy polly from the beach set in our family Oldsmobile when I was playing with them in the car...pretty sure he slipped down where the seatbelt comes out...so now if I do find them, I'll have all the pieces again!)
Laugh all you will, but everyone has something that they would love to see again. In fact, I told my in-laws we should have a vintage toy Christmas this year. :) Wouldn't you love to open just one gift and have it be something special from your past? I think it'd be pretty neat.
* * *
Meanwhile, the most exciting thing that was supposed to happen last week was getting my hair cut:
 |
| Before |
 |
| After |
* * *
As I said, this only barely scratches what happened this week. I didn't even go into the Tea Festival, staking out the grand opening of REI in our area for free water bottles and gifts cards, my sister adopting her first cat, one of my best friends adopting her first dog, teaching a lesson that tested my patience (I wanted to pull my hair out by the end), or really any of the other myriad of subjects I could talk about.
But at least this time, when somebody asks me how my week went, I'll have something to say!
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