Friday, November 13, 2009

Learning the Lessons

I really cannot believe I haven't written each day this week. I usually try to get an entry in while I'm temping, but I guess Wednesday came and went. It's Friday and my schedule is pretty light. I have been very good about cleaning the house, except for my bedroom. So tonight, if nothing comes up, I will be tackling that area.

This week was really great for many reasons. First is that I got my haircut and I feel so much better about myself. I have a bunch of weight to lose and muscle tone to regain, but I started biking to the BART station and taking yoga this week. And with watching my finances I can also watch my eating habits better.

Secondly, I FINALLY started physical therapy! My therapist, Dawn, pointed out all of these idiosynchrocies with the way I have been walking that may stem back to the original sprain in my teens that I never allowed to heal properly. She has given me all of these skills training to walk symmetrically and to build up muscles in areas that may have atrophied due to injury or improper healing.

While there is a bit of tweaking here and there - like my right knee and lateral side of my left ankle bothering me - I feel better as I walk. There is more mobility and gradually it will be joined by increased stability.

All in all a pretty magical thing.

And finally, last night Tony and I went to see the physical theatre company, DV8 at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts. We were introduced to them in Della's CORE class our first year at Davis. And it was pretty remarkable stuff. They created projects for video. This was the first time I saw them live. They actually have not been to YBCA (and perhaps SF)in 12 years. The place was packed and I hear they are completely sold out for their run. They are adamant about starting on-time, so I actually got a call from the box office suggesting getting there early to pick up my tickets. Unfortunately the front of house staff was pretty rude about it, so hopefully Kati will make some improvements tonight.

They are currently touring a show called To Be Straight with You. It's a dance/theatre piece based on interviews with people around the subject of homosexuality in a muslim world. The movements were so dynamic and committed. The stories - while sometimes hard to understand - were complex and disturbing.

It made me think about using interviews to expand When You Hit Your Funny Bone. Interviewing people of all ages and ethnicities about what they find funny and why. Similarly to what I did with Marcie Millard and Chris Ensweiler. I even heard a mention of laughter on the radio the other day on some health care spot, Kaiser Permanente, maybe. So, I am toying with that idea, as well as the repetition or expanding of themes. Sitting on the toilet, toilet humor, the sound of peeing or pouring water...

It's now 2:26PM. Two hours after I started the original entry. Work tasks and a break for lunch later and here we are.

Gratitudes:
1. Passionate artists
2. chicken and waffles
3. physical therapy
4. a roof over my head
5. friends who like board games

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