life as a flamingo

it's been three long days since i broke my foot. i've been outside the confines of my apartment only a few times. it's a long and tedious process to travel anywhere that's not within hopping distance. already i have bruised underarms and pain in my hands from the crutches. i've always said that i need to improve my upper-body strength, but this wasn't really what i had in mind.

i've found it difficult to do much of anything without the ability to use both of my feet. standing to use the bathroom, attempting to prepare a meal, dressing, or even getting into bed is a chore. bathing still tops to "pain in the ass" list, though.

tuesday evening, i took a shower. this required wrapping my semi-permanent cast in a plastic trash bag and hanging it outside the shower. i was somewhat able to wash my hair and scrub the rest of my body (left leg excluded) with soap. water was running down my leg, so my dedicated nurse also had to wrap a towel around my leg to prevent water from getting anywhere near the cast, to prevent itching and odor. it was an ordeal, to say the least.

my dear friend andrea has now 'swansat' a couple of times, teaching me to "use my words" instead of just pointing to things i need. she's been kind enough to bring my wine glass right to me and to provide refills as necessary. amanda, another kind-hearted soul, has helped entertain me with games of euchre and fluffing my pillow as necessary to help my foot stay elevated. as you can see, it's been a group effort; and i appreciate every helping hand.

however, ultimate boredom has officially set in today. there was no one to play with, since everyone was working. and while i know that i would probably be sitting around, playing on the computer, or catching up on my stories since it is my summer vacation, the fact that i have little choice in the matter now is aggravating. i found myself turning off the tv today. just a few random moments to think and dream of life with two working feet. i realized that i need a hobby. i'm feeling crafty. i'm wishing desperately that i had some mod podge to decoupage some items for the guest room. i wish that i had a cross-stitching pattern to keep my hands busy. i wish that i knew how to bind off when knitting to work on that scarf that might be finished by winter. but alas, a trip to michael's is just not in the cards for me due to my lack of desire to hop through the craft store.

the weekend is near. i'm unable to do the l.a.t.e. ride that i was excited about. no other plans, but i'm sure they won't include dining al fresco, taking a walk in the neighborhood, or attending any outdoor festivals.

perhaps my orthopedic will provide me with some seemingly good news on saturday when i meet with him.

until then, i'll be the one standing like a flamingo.