A list of things and stuff

I prefer to blog about dance and post embarrassing Facebook notes these days, so I forget that lil Shady Street is here waiting for me to give it a little TLC. Some brief updates:

1. I went to the doctor and got X-rays. Final verdict? Fractured radial head. (i.e. fractured elbow). Two places. Takes six weeks to heal but doesn't require a cast. It's still painful, but I've gained back a lot of my range of motion already, which bodes well for the future.

2. It's cold in New York. It's not Chicago cold by any means, and there's been no snow. But it went from jacket weather to do-not-leave-the-house-without-gloves weather overnight, and I have a feeling it will stay that way for a while. As a result, I've been eating copious amounts of soup and drinking wine at home instead of going out during the week.

3. I'm broke. I guess that's not news, but I'm especially broke right now, and all of the holidays coming up are not going to remedy that situation. I am considering spending my mornings tap dancing in the subway.

4. I'm reconsidering grad school (again). I probably shouldn't say more in case I jinx it.

5. I was going to visit Chicago/Milwaukee for Thanksgiving, but due to issues with funds (see #3) and frequent flyer miles, it was not possible. Instead I'm going to the Macy's parade. Wish me luck. I'm never good in large crowds.

Busted

Monday night I was at rehearsal and decided to get creative in a lift, which resulted in me falling about 5 feet to my demise, catching most of my body weight on my left arm and hyperextending my elbow (I think). The soonest doctor's appointment I was able to get is Monday morning, but I do plan to call a doctor's group tomorrow that caters to artists. Uninsured artists. I just learned about it. Maybe I can get in before the weekend.

Teaching is hard. Washing my hair is hard. Carrying a heavy bag is hard. I feel very lopsided right now.

My students think I broke my arm, even though I tried to explain to them what happened. Virginia, one of my most enthusiastic kindergarteners, raised her hand in class today and said "Ms. Sarah, I remember the good 'ole days when you could move two arms."

So here's the desk...

Jenna: and we have a president who, when he comes on the tv to address the country, i won't look for ways to tear my face off

me: hahaha
well he doesn't sound like an idiot
and make awkward pauses and have shifty eyes

Jenna: hahahaha
and have dick cheneys hand up his ass

me: I like how bush was holding a press conference to say he was going to help obama transition to the white house
gee thanks, bush

Jenna: hahahah
i was imagining what that would look like

me: hahaha

Jenna: "so, here's the desk...
i keep candy in drawer

me: haahahah

Jenna: and silly putty in that one

me: hahahaha

Jenna: and here's the chair
it's spinny
and here's my pillow i keep in here for when dick comes in and tells me it's naptime

me: hahaha

Jenna: and that's about it"
"oh, and here's the phone...
speed dial 2 is pizza hut, 3 is cheng's chinese garden, 4 is my bookie, and 1 is somethin official...I'm not allowed to touch that"

me: haha
there's this other red phone
but we unplugged it a long time ago

Jenna: hhahaha

me: cheney just lets me play with it

Jenna: i like to pretend to call the north pole on it

me: "hello? santa?"

Jenna: "bring me a pony!"

We did.

There has been basically no web activity from me in the past week and a half. Not a single update on any of my blogs. I wish I could say I was using that time doing something to make sure everyone who was able voted because that is definitely all I cared about as the election approached. The truth is, my productivity level has declined over the past two weeks for reasons I don't quite understand. But I feel a comeback coming on. Anyway, this is not about me right now.

I have nothing left to say that hasn't been said already all across the Internet a million times over. Yes, I'm elated Obama won the election. Yes, I am so happy that so many Americans turned out to VOTE (no matter who they voted for). The beauty of living in this country is that even if you are ignorant and uninformed, you still get to participate in the democratic process, for better or for worse. And Tuesday night was a glorious example of democracy in action. No, I don't say that because my guy won. (But it obviously makes me happy.) I say it because it was a very simple, classic case of majority rules. I'm sorry if your guy did not win, but there was no question on November 4th who America wanted as our new leader. We did it. We did it.

Brooklyn erupted when they called it. Who am I kidding? Brooklyn erupted at about 8:30 when they announced Obama won Pennsylvania. And again after each blue state was called. I opened the champagne I brought to the election party before the West Coast polls closed. We knew we had something to celebrate.

Since then, I've had several more moments of joy related to the election results. One involved reading a new friend's essay that hoped Obama's victory would not only empower African Americans but would also empower Arab Americans and help our country shed the notions that all Arabs and/or Muslims (or those with Muslim names and/or brown skin) are not "true" Americans with the same options as everyone else. Another involved me arriving at the school in Brooklyn where I teach dance part time to find an entire cafeteria of elementary school children yelling "YES WE CAN" and "O-BAM-A" over and over. When the 2nd graders stood up on their seats and stomped their feet I couldn't take it anymore. I ran to them, jumping up and down, and joined their cheers. There was no confusion in their faces. Whether they understood why everyone was so excited or not, they knew that something big had happened. It's my hope that we can show them with a restored country full of pride, prosperity and opportunity.

My Flickr page has some iPhone shots of some of the action, but I was excited and busy texting everyone I ever met and I may or may not have had a bit too much to drink in celebration.



I didn't take this photo. It's from NY Mag's Daily Intel, but it's a scene from my neighborhood, just a few blocks from my apartment. I wasn't in my neighborhood for election night, but I think this photo captures what was happening in most of the city until the wee hours of the night. So, Chicago, yes I know you had the rally. But fear not, New York was holding it down. Strangers hugging and people crying and fireworks and the whole bit. I'll never forget it. Any of it.