And now for something completely different

After the recent events in Mumbai, I know that I needed a laugh. Here is one of my most favorite Youtube videos, the Kitty Cat Dance. The main cat looks suspiciously like my calico, Precious (what has she been doing in her free time??). Enjoy :)

5 Month Surgery Update

Believe it or not - today marks FIVE MONTHS since my spinal surgery!! How has time passed so quickly? I truly feel like I have experienced a miracle - my life is so completely and totally changed. Some interesting developments:






1) I've been able to start doing some video workouts! My cable system comes with a section called "Exercise TV," and it includes all kinds of workouts, from simple walking, dancing, pilates, yoga, and aerobics. I have been doing a walking workout (basically low impact, left-right-left-right, add some arms), which covers 2 miles over the half-hour, and it has felt so good! Having done NOTHING like this for three years, it feels amazing to be able to work up a sweat without being in tremendous pain.

2) I DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY!!! My synagogue held a big fund-raiser dinner dance two weeks ago. I had no idea what to expect - they advertised dancing, but were the congregants in attendance actually going to get up?? The answer was a HUGE yes! And, dear readers, I was up there the WHOLE TIME!! I was able to dance for THREE hours in HEELS, and didn't even hurt the next day. I haven't danced in years, and I haven't worn heels in years, and I was doing BOTH!!! 13 year old Marci, who won tons of dance contests on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah circuit, was celebrating the return to the dancefloor. My hips were shaking, my shoulders were shimmying, and the electric slide was calling my name. Ahhhhh......

3) I am closer and closer to being able to sit with my right leg in front of me. This may seem minor, but think about how often you have your legs up - in bed, sitting cross-legged, etc. I have had to keep it hanging off the side of the bed until I lay down because my hip wouldn't let me bring up the leg. Now - the muscle is much looser and I can do it!

Thanks for helping me celebrate!!

Not much to say tonight

Howdy, y'all. I am in a lot of pain tonight (terrible back pain), so it is really difficult to think. Yet, even just typing about it, and acknowledging it in a tangible way, is really helpful.

I am usually in pain, but it is particularly bad today. Why? Because I couldn't resist Israeli Dancing last night. We had our Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration at the temple last night, and the concert portion was followed by dinner and dancing. I hadn't done Israeli dancing in years, and certainly not since the car accident. It was glorious - "Od Lo Ahavti Dai," "Mayim, Mayim" and more. For a few brief moments of dancing, I felt normal again. I felt like I could move and have control over my body in a way that I haven't experienced in 2 and a half years.

Well, forgive me for complaining. Getting ready for bed, hope to sleep well. Good night!