Scalding Hot Ninja

March 31, 2010

This morning I bid adieu to the love of my life who left for the last five weeks of his tour. You will have my undivided attention once more.

I have been a busy love-struck ninja this past week. But my two-footed love and I met with much adversity from the forces of nature, transportation and the musical theatre gods.

Torrential rain, missed buses and anticlimactic auditions aside, it was a lovely week. I invented a new exercise/game on my crutches (a staple for the one-footed aerobic craze I intend to start, entitled “Core on Crutches”). Holding the crutches with one’s arms locked, the object of the game is to pick up the good foot from the ground and remain balanced mid-air for as long as possible. I discovered it in Whole Foods, perfected my technique at the Regal Cinemas in Times Square, and have been frightening food shoppers and moviegoers all week long! My record is around ten seconds.

I paid a trip to my wonderful orthopedist - he who loves to make the injured wait several hours for bad news - and got an update. 3-4 more weeks - BUT! - I can start putting a little weight on it. And, it turns out I can move my ankle! I guess I assumed they were all connected and my poor foot has lost all circulation from just hanging off the end of me for two weeks. It looks a lot more lifelike now with the frequent ankle rolls I have been incorporating into my busy days.

I had a great ninja workout today, with an emphatic one-legged barre to work my left leg (and ankle, now that I realize I can). And with putting a little weight on my foot, I can get back into my splits, which are still quite arresting.

In honor of Passover, I made a delicious matzoh-brei this morning (fried egg with matzoh, to be enjoyed with maple syrup) for myself and he who makes me hot apple cider with whipped cream and marshmallows.

I shall now relate an amusing story about said apple cider. After an arduous day of auditions, an unpleasant visit to the foot doctor, and a Passover seder where we were seated at the unruly teen’s table, my love and I settled into bed to watch a movie. It was a nice end to a stressful day. We had acquired the supplies for our fall-time treat of apple cider - cider, marshmallows, whipped cream. I had my first sip. Delicious, but very hot. My second, even better, with a melted marshmallow sneaking its way in to my mouth. My third, unbelievably HOT! And not in my mouth, but all over the crotch and upper thighs of my jeans! “Scalding hot va@#$%!!” I shouted out, but was too paralyzed by fear of (further) injuring my foot to move and my wrist remained in the downward motion of pouring the cider onto my person. Not until Chris urged me to stop pouring and start moving did I hobble my way out of the bed only to discover it had seeped its sweet, cider-y way into my blanket and sheets. He who makes everything right proceeded to do an impromptu laundry load while we watched “The Proposal” on Netflix. I tell this story to demonstrate several items: 1) I have the most wonderful boyfriend and am very lucky. 2) It is time I add “being less oblivious” to my list of goals. 3) Even at the time, it was really, really funny. Hot (scalding), but funny.

I would like to give a shout-out to my father for making the best food at Passover time. Oh, and speaking of genetic culinary talent, my angel food cake was greatly appreciated!

In musical news, I began learning “Love Story” by Taylor Swift on guitar today, and it’s coming along well.

I am off to the West Village to return my adorable pup to my dad’s apartment, and, of course, dig into some Passover leftovers. Happy matzoh, folks!