February 28, 2012

the story of a tumble monkey

I took a little tumble, so to speak, last Friday and spent lots of fun hours in the Emergency Room. I honestly was not going to post about this, but after all the lolz that happened during my very short ER stay I decided that a pretty sweet story could be told out of that night and those happenings. 

Side note: one of the first things Russ Moore said to me when he got to the hospital? So, are you going to post something on Facebook or should I? ...Nah, just blog about it. 

Here ya are, Russell. A blog post. 

I won't say much about the fall. This isn't a woe is me post, this is a LOL post and the fall would just really bring it down (badda bing!). Just know that I did a headstand-y backflip off of Bhumi's back (by accident) and did the whole flip on the side of my neck. My back cracked from top of the neck to bottom of my butt. Thank ya very much. 

I realized a very important piece of life information this weekend. I live in a dance bubble. I do. People in my bubble speak my language and understand my life. People outside of my bubble like the fire department, ambulance drivers, nurses, and doctors do not speak my language. I spent Friday night feeling like I was speaking Greek. Here are words from my language you will need to know for this post:

Downward Dog (a well known yoga pose)
Marley floor (special sprung floor for dancing)

The first feeling after the fall was pure shock. Like, what just happened? Was that crack my back?  Why can't my back pop when I want it to pop?  OW. OW. OW. Once the tears and snot had stopped and graciously flowed down my face onto the floor, I was told not. to. move. under. any. circumstances. Long story short, I was taped down and rolled out of the dance studio on a gurney. Any feelings of Oh, I'm totally fine went out the window as soon as I was taped down and rushed to an ambulance. 

Scene 1: Inside the ambulance
EMS 1: So, what happened again? 
Bhumi: I was in a push-up position and Emily was sitting on me. I popped into downward dog and she was supposed to slide down my back--her stomach on my back. Instead, her legs flew over and she flipped on her neck. 
EMS 1: Hmm, I do know what a downward dog is. Are you impressed? 
EMS 2: I don't know what kind of music y'all like so I just put some on. 
::Enrique Iglesias heard in background::
EMS 1: I'll just say 'Dancer fell in practice and hurt back.' I need some information. Phone #? And when is the best time for me to call you...?
The rest of the ride included questions about injuries while dancing, questions about how long we have danced and what kind we prefer, questions about tattoos, and show and tell time for EMS man's tattoo. (p.s.--it was on his lip. Being taped down I saw nothing--only heard Bhumi's, "Oh...")

Scene 2: Inside the ER
High-pitched Voice Nurse: Here is our dancer. Hurt her back. How did you do it again? You know if you were a pole dancer you wouldn't get hurt like this.
Bhumi gives explanation again.
Blank looks seen from all nurses.
Bhumi throws down bags and purses, gets on the floor, and demonstrates. 
Everyone: Ohhhhhh, okay. (more confused looks)

From that moment on, I was known as backflip girl.

Next four hours:
Nurse: This happened on soft floor? Oh, dance floor? So floor like this linoleum?
Nurse: You flipped from four feet up in the air? No? Two feet?
Nurse to other nurse before shift change: She was on this other girl's back and the girl jumped and she flew off of her back and did a flip and then I think she landed on her neck? But there was definitely a flip.
Russ: I'm not sure what happened. Downward dog is a yoga position, right? 
Doctor: I was talking to my assistant about the logistics of this and we're still not really sure what happened, but the point is nothing is broken or fractured.
Second shift nurse: That's so great you stuck with gymnastics. My daughter started too early and lost interest. 

The moral of the story? 
Always have a candid video camera in dance studios for all those people who aren't native dance speakers.

Second moral of the story?
Always have clothes and shoes and jackets and blankets ready just in case you go to the hospital in the middle of rehearsal. I was the hooligan in the ER with no shoes and only sweaty dance clothes. In the 40 degree weather. 

Third moral of the story?
Have really great friends like Bhumi/SDT members who do things like grab my purse, contact my family, ride in ambulances, and sit in the ER for 5 hours on a Friday night. A great boyfriend who comes and sits with you and brings you gummy bears. And a great dad who comes and fills your prescription so you can hit up those pain meds.

Obviously, I am fine. Sore muscles and bones, but thankful that is all. (Okay, maybe I should say I will be more thankful after this current pain has subsided). By the time I was called a gymnast I just agreed. Agreeing and smiling and nodding was a lot easier than trying to explain the story for the fifty seventh time. It might turn into sixty seven times after this blog causes mass confusion of what happened to all of my loyal readers...

Y'all stay safe out there! It's a crazy world full of unexpected backflips and weekend adventures!

February 24, 2012

five facts on a friday

This week was about as fun as dipping one's toes in burning oil.  Okay, it wasn't that bad. It was more like dipping one's toe in really really really hot water when that person really really really did not want to dip their toes in the hot water. Or something to that effect. 

Everyone loves David Letterman and I'm fairly certain, as in 100% positive, that it is because of his Top Ten. In order for everyone to love me I am 100% positive that I will need to do a Top Five today. It actually is not Top Five so to speak--it's more of Five Completely Random Facts About My Life. Do you love me yet?

  1. I woke up with a bird's nest of a tangle in my hair this morning. Literally, a bird's nest in my air. I was waiting for the chirping. I can't believe I am saying this, but...I would almost prefer to wake up with my cowlick's devil horn(s) than with the mother of all tangles. Life of a straight haired girl, I tell you what.
  2. My 89 year old grandfather got a Facebook. I still feel like this isn't real life. Mostly because every time I read a comment or wall post of his, I realize it sounds more and more like my father. Who probably made the Facebook for him. And probably is commenting for him. You aren't fooling anyone, Russ Moore. 
  3. Some of my dance friends have been saying I should add food and recipe posts on my blog. I couldn't think of a better idea for someone who eats as much as I do. It might help if I cooked some more, but we'll work on that. I could have a mean post about my pb sandwiches. Just sayin'. Also, the seamless way I open new hummus packets. Ahh, more to come on this new food post stuff. 
  4. I had a test this week. Tests are...stupid. Give me a paper to write and I'll knock your socks off. Give me a test to take and I'll keep your socks on your feet. Very very tightly around your feet. The only refreshing thought that comes from this is I graduate in less than THREE months! !!! !!! !!! 
  5. Bhumi (my roommate for those of you who fail at stalking me) had a birthday this week and is having a birthday party this weekend. A potluck style birthday party. This girl, knows how to pull on my heartstrings. It's like she's doing a birthday party surrounded by food in order to make me feel like it's my birthday too. I've been pinteresting like crazy up in here to find a unique recipe for this potluck. But, you'll hear more about that when I start my fabulous line of food posts soon. 
Well, if you love me a little more because I am posting lists like David Letterman then that is great. If you hate me...then go start your own blog. 

I can't have a pictureless blog so enjoy this picture of Bhumi's birthday outfit!

February 16, 2012

sappy love post: take one

A lot of people are against Valentine's Day. They go on and on about how it is a made up holiday and you should be lovey-dovey-schmoozy-woozy every day of the year, yadda yadda yadda. That's all well and good (have you noticed most of those people AREN'T EVEN that great to one another the other days of the year...) , but when there is themed chocolate involved then I am very much involved in said holiday. Therefore, it is impossible for me to hate Valentine's Day. Be lovey-dovey-schmoozy-woozy to me and let's eat some chocolate. 

And that is exactly how my Valentine's Day went. 

Remember that one time I talked about how great Freddiefriend is and how everyone needed one and you should go out and find one but not mine and then your life will be super duper fantastic? Remember that one time I wrote a fabulous run-on sentence? Okay, you caught me, maybe I've mentioned the FF thing more than once. Does that mean you've all found one by now? One referring to the species of Freddiefriends, of course.

I was wooed with the best kind of woos. Candlelight, chocolate, flowers, Michael Bubs music, 10 oz. slab of burger deliciousness, more chocolate, and cards. Aside from Russell and MC, who have fed (literally) my chocolate obsession every Valentine's Day, no one has ever been the lovey-dovey-schmoozy-woozy that makes other people gag on Valentine's Day to me. Gag, I did not. Tell my Freddiefriend that I loved him and his sweet sweet dancer legs, I most certainly did. 



Be still my heart and stomach, there's a Freddiefriend around.

February 12, 2012

fab feb

What has Emily been up to recently?....is the question I hear y'all asking yourselves all the time. I have decided to break all the curious minds and answer that question.

First of all, I have to point out that it is February 12. No, I am not pointing this out in the AHH! Valentine's Day is only TWO days away! Go get your gifts and dinner reservations, people! kind of way. I am pointing it out in the AHH! It is already mid-February. Why is time going so quickly? Have I graduated college yet? What am I doing? kind of way. I mean February is really close to March which is close to May which is close-ish to August and then before you know it we'll be putting up Christmas trees. It will happen that fast. 

But that doesn't tell you what I've been doing! Silly me.

February started out with performances. Lots of them. Ann's school did The Mikado and my mom was a NITWIT. Hey now, I am not calling my mom a nitwit. She is in NITWITS improv group. Look it up/go to all their shows. Having such an artsy-fartsy fam keeps my calendar pretty full, lemme tell ya. One weekend it's Mom doing improv or something, the next weekend is Disney(duh), and then it's Ann's show. Did you know that Ann Moore can belt it out? Yeah, me either. Weird. I wonder what other secret talents she has...

This weekend was a doozie. A doozie in the best kind of doozie way. Unfortunately I did not get to see Ann sing her heart out or my mom improvise like she's a Whose Line pro, I DID get to:

1) Take the GRE--This was more of a have to than a get to, if you know what I mean. In addition to memorizing a plethora (GRE word!) of vocabulary words, Freddie and I confronted my antipathy (GRE word!) towards all things math. That is code for Freddie spent hours trying to teach me how to do math. 
F: What is 4+4?
E: Stop asking me questions.
F: I'm trying to help. So...the answer is?
E: I'm not answering that.
F: That means you don't know?

This went on for hours and hours of pure fun math partying!

2) Run a race in my underwear--Uh, what? My race team, Dance Your Pants Off, and I ran in the Cupid's Undie Run this year. Remember how it's been 60 degrees every day this year since January 1? But then there was one day when the high was 37? Yeah, that would be the day of the underwear race. F-f-f-freezing in our underwear (a.k.a. leotard and shorts, everyone's underwear choice, right?), we ran the 1 mile-ish route through VaHi. The cold was well, cold, but the wind was TERRIBLE. Why why why did Miss Wind have to blow us out like birthday candles? I have goosebumps just thinking about Saturday. The good news? We were running for the Children's Tumor Foundation. Bhumi kept us pumped with constantly yelling, "You love kids! Do it for the kids!" Children, I did it for you. 

3) See Atlanta Ballet's Princess and the Goblin (and start celebrating Bhumi's big ole 22 birthday)-- Twyla Tharp was in the house. The Atlanta Ballet house. If you don't know who Twyla Tharp is, go look her up right now. While you're at it, go look up who Emily Moore and Bhumi Patel are because we are equally as awesome, FYI.

Things to look forward to during the next few weeks: not studying for the GRE, not running in my leotard underwear, babysitting one of my fav kiddos (HEY GRACE!), multiple Fat Kid Fridays, Bhumi's birthday potluck (more Fat Kid days), and celebrating a whole year spent with the infamous Freddiefriend. 

leotard underwear and freezing temps

Partying it up with Twyla

February 3, 2012

flashy not trashy

Have you ever watched flash mobs on YouTube and been like, "Wow dude, awesome" or, "I WANT TO BE IN ONE!!!" or, "Uh, when can I see one in person?" Especially the flash mob proposals. Oh my gosh, I die every time. And when he pulls the ring out it's like omg, no way?! Surprise every time, right?

Last week the Flash Mobs gods were feeling really generous and answered our little flashy prayers. Studio Dance Theatre, my college dance company, was asked to perform in a flash mob. At the High Museum. For College Night. Chyeah people, we flash mob in style. None of this flash mob on sidewalks business. We considered the offer for a full hundredth of a second before screaming YES YES YES and dancing and jumping up and down and doing cartwheels and...you get the picture. We were those "I WANT TO BE IN ONE!" kind of people. 

With only a week to prepare, we got to business. Secretly choreographing and secretly have rehearsals with the secret group of 25 dancers. Two rehearsals later (we can I say, we're also smart flash mobbers) we were ready for the big day. The plan was for us to be meandering around and in the dance party at College Night. Suddenly, the DJ would play a song to which we all just happened to know a choreographed dance and gradually we would add in until all 25 of us were dancing for the last part. 

It was a BLAST. And a half. The crowd was screaming, we were screaming, and I bet even the Security guards were looking like they had some ants in their pants. I mean, come on, it's a flash mob! A flash mob! Everyone loves a good ole flash mob!! !!

If you hate flash mobs, then you probably hate this blog. Sorry I'm not sorry. 


Now, a week later, we are all in a deep state of no flash mobs depression. So watch out, you never know when we will strike next ;) No one pulled out a rock of a ring and proposed after our flash mob so that is just going to have to happen next time in order to fulfill my dream of dancing in a flash mob proposal. Flash Mob gods, did you hear that? Get on it. 

this video is not the best quality, but what can I say? It's hard for a little phone camera to catch all the awesomeness that was this flash mob.