women's challenge wrap up

I missed our Thursday game due to dance class, but heard we shook after the 6th.

Friday's game we were up two after the 4th. In the 5th they took 6 :(
So we're down 4 with three ends to go, not great, but not insurmountable. We took 1 in the 6th so down 3.
Then in the 7th they took 4 so I shook. I think we played well but couldn't recover from the 6-point end.

Saturday we were tied after the 6th (all 1 point ends, btw). We stole 3 in the 7th. The beginning of the 8th went well, we threw through and hit. Then we missed a few shots. I missed my first shot. My second shot was right on the broom with the correct weight, but then it picked, switched handle, and went through. So disappointing! (Someone in the warm room said I was robbed). Their final shot was good. We had to measure three stones and it turned out they had 4. We got as close to winning as you possibly could while still losing.

Thanks for excellent playing by insptr_penguin, ellen_fremedon, and afrikate. Despite all of the illness, injury, and exhaustion suffered by our team we pulled together and played well. (And thanks for giving me the opportunity to skip!) I had a great time at the bonspiel with you!

The bellydance show went well. Many, many thanks to all of the people who helped me get ready and put up with me fretting and bossing everyone around. (And who figured out how to operate the glitter brush.) I was super nervous going out, but they did a great job leaving me lots of room to dance, dimming the lights, and having the music at the right volume. Because I had so much room and people almost all the way around the room I had to adjust my routine to face different directions. I also got "tips" and because of people coming up had to abandon my choreography part way through (I don't think it showed too much though). I had a really good time, the energy in the room was great, and people we really supportive. I had $200 in funny money and $3 in real money :)

Thanks especially to flt for the opportunity for my debut!


(Now I just need to find other opportunities to perform. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.)

latin hip hop and back pain

Sunday was really nice. In the morning I went to catch the last few hours of women's challenge. That night D. and I went to see Jem's Latin Hip Hop performance as part of JOM's winter showcase. The show was great and Jem was fantastic!!!

Today was not so great. D.'s lower back started to hurt at work while he was washing his hands. The pain was so intense he had durdge take him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with a lower back sprain. I bused, metroed, and walked to their work to pick up the car and met them at the pharmacy. (Thanks durdge!)

D. got home and spent some time on the living room floor. It was very, very painful for him to get up and move into the bedroom. Now he's in bed with pillows, ice packs, heat thingies, a variety of prescription pain medication, food, and books. It is some of the worst pain D. has ever experienced and from my view at times his expression looked a lot like the women you see on the discovery channel giving birth. He is hurting a lot and I'm sure would appreciate any signs of support.

Hopefully he will feel significantly better in a day or two although I'm sure full recovery will take a while.